KIEV, Oct. 16 – There are grounds to be optimistic about Ukraine's chances to become a member of the European Union, President Viktor Yushchenko said this in a statement following talks with Belgian Premier Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels on Friday.

KIEV, Oct. 19 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, reported on Monday that 93% of investors holding its $500 million eurobond had agreed to swap the debt into a new five-year eurobond.

KIEV, Oct. 17 – The National Bank of Ukraine will lend the Individual Deposit Guarantee Fund UAH1 billion to increase the ceiling on compensation for deposits of individuals from UAH50,000 to UAH100,000, NBU Council Chairman Petro Poroshenko has said.

KIEV, Oct. 17 - Fitch Ratings has downgraded Ukraine's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to 'B+,’ from 'BB-.’

The outlooks on both IDRs remain Negative.

KIEV, Oct. 19 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been waging a fierce legal battle with President Viktor Yushchenko to stop the early election, said Sunday her group would unilaterally suspend the battle.

KIEV, Oct. 19 – President Viktor Yushchenko is expected to announce his economic rescue package on Monday, two days later than earlier promised, after apparently making adjustments following his meeting with International Monetary Fund officials Friday.

KIEV, Oct. 19 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Sunday suggested that all five political groups in Parliament join forces in a grand coalition and form a government in a bid to stop the looming financial crisis.

KIEV, Oct. 19 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko attended on Oct. 18 the premiere of a feature-length documentary film on the Holocaust, entitled Spell My Name, the presidential press service reported.

KIEV, Oct. 19 - Four ministers representing President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party in the government on Thursday submitted resignations letters following the collapse of broad coalition talks with the Regions Party.

KIEV, Oct. 19 - Vanco Energy Company, a U.S.-based oil firm, on Thursday hit new snags in Ukraine's Black Sea offshore oil and gas project after the government had rejected the company's Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).