KIEV, Dec. 18 - Ukraine could be a member of the Customs Union formed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and a member of a free trade area with the European Union at the same time, Regions Party faction parliamentarian and deputy chairman of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Leonid Kozhara, told the Channel 5 television station.

KHARKIV, Dec. 18 – The court hearing of a case against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko concerning financial abuse within the United Energy Systems of Ukraine Corporation has been adjourned until January 18.

KIEV, Dec. 18 – Hours before he was supposed to board a plane to leave for energy and trade talks with Russia, President Viktor Yanukovych postponed the trip indefinitely, citing the need for “additional consultations.”

KIEV, Dec. 15 - President Viktor Yanukovych said that it is crucial for Ukraine to participate in tenders for infrastructure development projects in Central Asia.

KIEV, Dec. 18 - The European Union will not formalize any deal it reaches with Ukraine at a summit on Monday, EU diplomats said on Friday, even as the country’s president expressed confidence that an agreement would in fact be signed, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Dec. 18 – Ukraine will try to accelerate talks with Russia aimed at lower natural gas prices by sending a high-level team of negotiators to Moscow, Interfax reported Sunday, citing a source familiar with the issue.

KIEV, Dec. 18 - President Viktor Yushchenko is alarmed with the quick weakening of the hryvnia and is drawing a plan of action to improve the situation on the currency market, Roman Zhukovsky, the head of the chief social and economic development service at the presidential secretariat, said at a briefing on Wednesday.

KIEV, Dec. 18 - Ukraine will hold talks with the European Union Thursday over Russian natural gas supplies amid signs that negotiations between Kiev and Moscow have been making slow progress, President Viktor Yushchenko’s office reported Thursday.

KIEV, Dec. 18 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko Thursday accused the National Bank of Ukraine, some commercial banks and the office of President Viktor Yushchenko of running a concerted speculative attack on the hryvnia for their own profit.

KIEV, Dec. 16 – President Viktor Yushchenko said, citing “experts,” that he predicts that Ukraine's gross domestic product will fall by 7% to 10% in the first quarter of 2009.