KIEV, May 17 – President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration on Monday scrambled to ban a video showing a burst of wind throwing a big wreath at him during an official ceremony with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

KIEV, May 17 - Russian gas giant Gazprom will fully pay for modernization of Ukrainian natural gas pipelines in the event of its merger with Naftogaz Ukrayiny, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said Monday.

KIEV, May 17 – Ukraine on Monday backed Moscow’s global security initiative, which calls for adopting legally binding commitments to ensure a “space of stability” covering the territory from North America, Europe to Russia.

LONDON, May 15 - Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the foreign currency corporate family, probability of default and debt ratings of Naftogaz Ukrayiny from B1 to B2.

The ratings remain on review for downgrade having initially been placed on review for downgrade on March 11, 2009.

KIEV, May 17 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Friday agreed to suspend Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko for a week to let lawmakers investigate his recent detention by German police following his apparently drunken melee in Frankfurt.

KIEV, May 15 – President Viktor Yushchenko plans to hold a high-profile meeting with key Ukrainian political and economic leaders on Monday to discuss the fate of Naftogaz Ukrayiny amid signs of its serious financial trouble.

KIEV, May 16 – Viktor Baloha, a powerful chief of staff at the office of President Viktor Yushchenko, has submitted his resignation, a move that may signal a major change in the president’s domestic policy.

KIEV, May 17 (AP) - The Security Service is investigating allegations of an assassination plot targeting top officials in Ukraine, including President Viktor Yushchenko, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

KIEV, May 17 ??“ The pro-Russian government coalition on Thursday hijacked the Constitutional Court by apparently using coordinated actions across Ukraine to promote its loyalist to the top position.

KIEV, May 17 ??“ Ukraine on Thursday was rapidly drifting towards a major clash between the pro-Western president and the pro-Russian ruling coalition following the collapse of talks that had been aimed at ending political crisis.