KIEV, March 21 - The 17-year process of the contractual and legal registration of a free trade area of the Commonwealth of Independent States should be completed as scheduled in May, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Andriy Kliuyev said.

KIEV, March 21 - A Palestinian who went missing last month in Ukraine after boarding a train in Kharkov headed to Kiev was kidnapped by agents of Mossad and taken to Israel against his will, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

KIEV, March 21 - President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday supported the idea of selling a stake in the national energy company Naftogaz Ukrayiny at an IPO as part of a plan to make the company more transparent.

KIEV, March 20 – U.S. President Barack Obama has invited President Viktor Yanukovych – along with 50 other world leaders – to join a nuclear non-proliferation summit in Washington on April 12, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia weekly reported Saturday citing a source.

KIEV, March 21 – Russia may suggest Ukraine elevate the status of the Russian language in the country as part of a deal to lower natural gas prices, a senior Russian lawmaker said Sunday.

KIEV, March 21 – Ukraine is seeking permission from the International Monetary Fund to spend $5 billion, or most of the money it can borrow this year, to cover its budget deficit, Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko said.

KIEV, March 18 - The state budget for 2009 wasn't fulfilled, while some indicators were falsified, Accounting Chamber head Valentyn Symonenko said at a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych.

KIEV, March 21 ??“ Parliament, led by pro-government coalition, on Wednesday approved Anatoliy Kinakh, a member of Our Ukraine opposition group, as the country??™s economy minister replacing Volodymyr Makukha from the post.

KIEV, March 21 ??“ Arseniy Yatseniuk, a close ally of pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, was Wednesday approved as Ukraine??™s new foreign minister after pro-government coalition and opposition groups had overwhelmingly backed the nomination.

KIEV, March 21 ??“ Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday has expressed concerns over the slow inflow of revenues to the state budget from privatization.