KYIV, Feb 21 – The need for additional external financing to cover the budget deficit of Ukraine in 2023 is currently $10 billion, the opening of a full-fledged long-term program with the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will help reduce this deficit, maintain macroeconomic and financial stability, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said at a meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Kyiv on Monday.

KYIV, Feb 21 – Russian occupation troops continue militarization of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the occupied town of Enerhodar of Zaporizhia region and intend to accuse the Ukrainian side of attacks on radiation-hazardous facilities, according to a report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for February 20.

WARSAW, Feb. 21 - President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned of “hard and bitter days ahead” as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nears the one-year mark, but vowed that no matter what, the United States and allies “will not waver” in supporting the Ukrainians.

KYIV, Feb 21 - Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States, announcing the move Tuesday in a bitter speech in which he made clear he would not change his strategy in the war in Ukraine.

KYIV, Feb 19 - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin might be thinking “illogically” about his initial plans to invade Ukraine, Reuters reported.

PARIS, Feb 20 - U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, U.S. and French leaders said, offering a possible path out from one of the most dangerous European crises in decades, Reuters reported.

KYIV, Feb 21 – Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai has announced the suspension of the operation of Luhansk thermal power plant (TPP) in the town of Schastia, Luhansk region, due to damage to all power lines outgoing from it.

KYIV, Feb 21 - Ukraine said on Monday about 10 airlines had stopped flying there amid U.S. warnings of an attack by Russian forces massed on its border but insisted its air corridors were still open and flying to the East European country was safe, Reuters reported.

MOSCOW, Feb 21 - A Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.

KYIV, Feb 19 – Almost half (46%) of Ukraine's population see the need for an early presidential election and just over half (54%), for early parliamentary elections this year, according to the findings of a poll conducted by the Ukrainian Institute of the Future (UIF) on January 27-February 5.