KIEV, Dec. 18 – Following the positive assessment of the progress report on the implementation by Ukraine of its Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP), the European Commission will present in early 2016 a legislative proposal to the Council and the European Parliament to lift visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens holding a biometric passport, said European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos.

KIEV, Dec. 18 – The European Commission on Friday approved a positive report on the implementation by Ukraine of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization (VLAP) with the EU by Ukraine.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – The financial assistance of the United States for Ukraine in 2016 shall be $658.185 million, which is $145 million above the initial request, the Ukrainian Embassy to the United States reported.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – President Petro Poroshenko has vetoed bill No. 1558-VIII on restructuring loans issued in foreign currency and retuned it with his proposals to the Ukrainian parliament for repeated discussion.

VIENNA, Dec. 18 - European security watchdog the OSCE prolonged the mandate of its observer mission at two Russian checkpoints on the border with Ukraine by three months on Thursday, the longest extension so far, Reuters reported.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 18 - The European Union's foreign policy chief urged President Vladimir Putin to adopt a "radical change in attitude" and begin cooperating as EU leaders gathered to map out a long-term strategy for dealing with an economically wounded Russia, Reuters reported.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 18 - Top Ukraine ministers vowed to root out graft in what they called the most corrupt country in Europe to meet the demands made by international partners before they stump up more aid.

KIEV, Dec. 18 - Ukraine took over natural gas producing assets in a small area bordering Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March, the state border guard service reported Thursday.

MOSCOW, Dec. 18 – President Vladimir Putin has branded Ukraine's attempt to crush a Moscow-backed separatist uprising in the east of the country a "punitive operation" and said Russia was fighting for its right to exist, AFP reported.

MOSCOW, Dec. 18 - President Vladimir Putin assured Russians on Thursday that the economy would rebound after the ruble's dramatic slide this year but offered no remedy for a deepening financial crisis, Reuters reported.