KIEV, July 16 - The driver of the ambulance from the presidential motorcade - Mykola Demydenko, an employee of the motor depot of the State Affairs Department - faces from three to eight years of imprisonment in connection with an April 21 accident which killed a taxi driver and injured two passengers.

KIEV, July 16 – President Viktor Yanukovych said his domestic and foreign policies, including improving relations with Russia, will help Ukraine to spur economic growth and to achieve “social progress.”

KIEV, July 16 - Ukraine plans to focus on the prevention and settlement of conflicts, the continued disarmament process and confidence building, ruling out zones with different levels of security, if it receives the right to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2013, Foreign Minister Konstantin Hryschenko said at an informal meeting of OSCE foreign ministers in the Kazakh city of Almaty.

KIEV, July 17 - The Cabinet of Ministers is working on a set of measures to step up the promotion of Ukrainian exports, including through using diplomatic and political levers of influence, Economy Minister Anatoliy Kinakh said at a press conference on Tuesday.

BRUSSELS, July 17 - EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is confident that Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization will open new opportunities in relations between Kiev and Brussels.

ASTANA, July 18 - Kazakh Emergency Ministry head Viktor Khrapunov has offered Ukraine Kazakhstan's assistance in the cleanup operation after the railway accident in Lviv region.

WARSAW, July 18 - Poland is loosening its visa restrictions on workers from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia in order to ease a labor shortage in the farming and construction sectors, The Associated Press reported, citing the Labor Ministry.

BRUSSELS, July 18 - EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said there was a 'good progress' in negotiations on closer EU-Ukraine relations.

KIEV, July 18 - Scores of people sought medical help on Wednesday after a poisonous chemical spill in Ukraine, Greenpeace said, warning of dangers to health and the environment from the toxic fumes, Reuters reported.

The environmental campaign group said 16 people were taken to hospitals on Tuesday and another 55 sought treatment on Wednesday. Neighboring countries also expressed concern.

KIEV, July 18 ??“ Capital of Ukrainian banks that issue loans to individuals will grow at least 30% annually during the next five years as economic growth will stimulate demand, Ukrsotsbank reported in a research report.