KIEV, Jan. 20 - A Ukrainian central bank official said on Tuesday he felt optimistic about the outcome of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund in Kiev which Ukraine hopes will lead to further financial aid, Reuters reported.

BERLIN, Jan. 20 - A new round of peace talks on the conflict in eastern Ukraine will be held in Berlin on Wednesday evening with the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France taking part, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Jan. 20 - Ukrainian army units came under attack from Russian regular forces in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday and heavy fighting was taking place, a Ukrainian military spokesman said, Reuters reported.

The announcement at a specially called news briefing was one of the boldest assertions yet by Ukraine of direct Russian military involvement in the nine-month conflict between pro-Russian separatists and government forces.

KIEV, Jan. 17 – President Viktor Yanukovych has signed law No. 719-VII on Ukraine's state budget for 2014, the presidential press service reported.

However, the text of the document has not yet been published in open sources.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 17 - European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule has said he is shocked at Ukraine's turn from the European path and warned that it will have consequences for partnership between Kiev and Brussels.

KIEV, Jan. 20 – The U.S. National Security Council expressed deep concern about the violence which took place on the streets of Kiev on Sunday and urges all sides to immediately de-escalate the situation.

KIEV, Jan. 20 – Talks between President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders aimed at easing the country’s deepest political crisis in decades have failed to materialize after the president refused to show up.

KIEV, Jan. 20 – Repressive legislation signed by President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday was published Tuesday by the government’s official newspapers, opening way for new attacks on protesters and a further escalation of street clashes in Ukraine.

KIEV, Jan. 17 – The Finance Ministry has proposed to levy a tax on real estate on the gross area of an apartment, but not living space.

A corresponding bill on amendments into the Article 265 of the Tax Code has been posted on the ministry's Web site.

KIEV, Jan. 17 – A mission of the International Monetary Fund will start its work in Ukraine on January 29 to discuss a new Stand-By Arrangement, said IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Max Alier.