WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has urged Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to continue the search for compromises with the opposition and immediately sign the laws adopted by Parliament, reads a statement posted on the White House's Web site.

KIEV, Jan. 29 - Lawmakers loyal to President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday offered an amnesty to people detained in the wave of anti-government protests - but only on condition that activists vacate occupied buildings in Kiev and other parts of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Jan. 29 - President Vladimir Putin raised the pressure on Ukraine on Wednesday, saying Russia would wait until it forms a new government before fully implementing a $15 billion bailout deal that Kiev urgently needs.

KIEV, Jan. 28 – Fitch Ratings says OAO Gazprom's ('BBB'/Stable) intention to impose a $7 billion fine on NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine (Naftogaz, 'CCC') for failing to purchase minimal contractual gas volumes in 2012 may either result in Ukraine ('B'/Stable) scrambling to find additional funds to support Naftogaz, or prolonged litigation.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 28 – The European Commission is not commenting on the new gas supply dispute between Kiev and Moscow, but hopes that it will not lead to the disruption of gas supplies to the EU states.

KIEV, Jan. 29 – President Viktor Yanukovych will make a state visit to China this year, Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara said at the European Business Association in Kiev on Tuesday.

Kozhara expressed the hope that after China forms its new government, the second meeting of the intergovernmental committee of Ukraine and China will take place.

KIEV, Jan. 29 – A former top police officer on Tuesday was sentenced to life in prison for murdering an investigative journalist 12.5 years ago, but the court failed to determine who had ordered the killing.

DAVOS, Jan. 26 - Ukraine is not planning to quarrel with anybody, either about the diversification of supplies of energy resources to Ukraine or the creation of a gas transport consortium, President Viktor Yanukovych said.

KIEV, Jan. 26 – The talks between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund will continue in two or three weeks, Deputy Prime Minister and Social Policy Minister Serhiy Tyhypko said.

"We agreed that we would continue these negotiations in two or three weeks. Both sides are preparing for this," he said at a press conference in Kiev on Thursday.

KIEV, Jan. 26 – Winter crops on around 30% of the fields in Ukraine do not have an adequate blanket of snow, so they could be damaged by the current severe frost, according to the head of the agricultural meteorology department of the Ukrainian Weather Center, Tetiana Adamenko.