KIEV, March 16 – Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has assessed the total amount of funds required for the realization of the social initiatives of President Viktor Yanukovych at UAH 25 billion.

"It’s not a large sum [of expense] compared to the total budget expenditure – around 5%," he said in an interview with the Examination for Power TV program on the First National TV Channel.

KIEV, March 18 – Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko on Saturday was elected to the No. 2 position at the ruling Regions Party, a step that opens way for him to become the next prime minister later this year.

KIEV, March 15 – President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to draw up and submit to Parliament bills on amendments to the national budget for 2012 aimed at the realization of social policy to improve the standard of living.

KIEV, March 15 – Ukraine should consider the possible strengthening of macroprudential regulation, IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Max Alier said.

"Many problems that appeared in 2008 were caused not only by situation at a specific financial institution.

KIEV, March 18 - Ukraine, at upcoming talks with Russia, will seek to lower natural gas prices closer to levels at which Belarus buys Russian natural gas, Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko said Thursday.

KIEV, March 18 – Ukraine will seek to continue cooperation with the International Monetary Fund even after its $16.4 billion two-year Stand-by loan program is over in November 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko said Thursday.

KIEV, March 16 – Ukraine consumed 7.46 billion cubic meters of gas in January, 2.62 billion cubic meters less than in January 2008, the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) newspaper reported, with reference to Naftogaz Ukrayiny.

BRUSSELS, March 18 - Kiev is working to get the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank to invest in modernizing the Ukrainian gas transportation system, said Deputy Foreign Minister Konstiantyn Yeliseyev.

KIEV, March 18 – Viktor Pynzenyk, a former finance minister who quit after a clash with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko over spending cuts, on Wednesday extended “deep sympathy” to his successor as Ukraine faces a “huge” budget deficit.

KIEV, March 18 - Ukraine seeks to integrate its massive natural gas transportation system into the European energy sector and plans to attract investments to increase its capacity, President Viktor Yushchenko said Wednesday.