KIEV, Feb. 18 - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for "a firm reaction from the world to Russia's brutal violation of the Minsk agreements and the ceasefire regime" after Ukrainian troops were surrounded by pro-Russian troops that launched an attack on the town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - Seven miners have been killed in an explosion at the Pivnichna mine of the Makiyivvuhillia state enterprise in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - Western partners will be prepared to extend financial assistance to Ukraine only if a new democratic government is elected in the country, the leaders of Ukraine's opposition Batkivschyna and UDAR factions, Arseniy Yatseniuk and Vitali Klitschko, said after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

MOSCOW, Feb. 18 - The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement poses no threat to Russia's interests, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - Russia blamed the West on Tuesday for an escalation of tension in Ukraine, saying European politicians had encouraged "radical forces" in the former Soviet republic by failing to condemn their actions, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - The United States issued a new travel alert for Ukraine on Tuesday, citing increased risks because of political unrest and violent clashes between protesters and authorities, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - Police battled their way into Kiev's Independence Square, center of three months of protests against President Viktor Yanukovych, but demonstrators, some armed with clubs and wearing helmets and body armor, tried to stand their ground.

KIEV, Feb. 15 – Regions Party MP Oleksandr Onyschenko has become the owner of FC Arsenal Kiev, the MP's press service reported.

KIEV, Feb. 18 - Ukraine is showcasing the Oplot tank, the new BTR-4MV armored personnel carrier and a number of other new military products at the IDEX 2013 international exhibition of defense weapons, technologies and systems in Abu Dhabi (the United Arab Emirates), the Foreign Ministry reported.

KIEV, Feb. 18 – The Batkivschyna parliamentary faction will support Vitali Klitschko as a single opposition candidate for Kiev mayor if Klitschko confirms his intention to run for election, said Mykola Tomenko one of the leaders of the Batkivschyna faction and head of Parliament’s Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information.