KIEV, Feb. 18 – The introduction of metal export duties in a period of super profits for metals companies thanks to high global prices will help create stabilization funds, which could then be used to help the sector cope with price collapses in the future, according to Leonid Kuchma, Ukrainian president in 1994-2004.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - The Ukrainian president's first foreign visit is likely to take place some time after the inauguration, the time required to "restore order in the country," Viktor Yanukovych said.

MOSCOW, Feb. 19 - Germany supports an initiative to establish a consortium in charge of overhauling and operating Ukraine's gas transportation system, which would include the European Union and Russia.

KIEV, Feb. 19 – Implementation of the president's decree on eliminating an environmental disaster in Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region, "could break the financial system of the country" because a state budget has not been adopted, said the top Finance Ministry official.

KIEV, Feb. 21 – President-elect Viktor Yanukovych said Sunday he will choose his new prime minister from among Serhiy Tyhypko, Arseniy Yatseniuk and Mykola Azarov, and added the new coalition will probably be formed by the end of the week.

KIEV, Feb. 20 – In a surprising twist, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Saturday has withdrawn her lawsuit disputing presidential election, a move that opens way for President-elect Viktor Yanukovych’s inauguration on February 25.

MOSCOW, Feb. 20 – Russia offered Ukraine to jointly develop oil and gas deposits in both countries, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov announced on Wednesday after negotiations with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

PARIS, Feb. 20 – President Viktor Yushchenko traveled to Paris on Wednesday apparently seeking to win French support for Kiev’s plans to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan as soon as in April.

KIEV, Feb. 21 - Ukraine resumed exports of uranium in January, just more than a year after such exports had been suspended, a source at the Fuel and Energy Ministry said Thursday.

KIEV, Feb. 21 - Russian gas giant Gazprom on Thursday made new demands against Ukraine, insisting the country must return 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said.