KIEV, Dec. 15 – An International Monetary Fund team will conclude technical discussions with the Ukrainian authorities by the end of this week, and the mission conducting policy discussions in the context of the IMF-supported stand-by program is expected to return to Kiev early next year, IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton said.

KIEV, Dec. 15 – The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has addressed the UN member states on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the UN General Assembly resolution "Definition of Aggression," pointing to a gross violation by Russia of this resolution and other fundamental international documents.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 15 – Ukraine will continue to insist on increasing European Union sanctions against Russia due to the situation in eastern Ukraine, and the illegal annexation of Crimea, says the Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 – The International Monetary Fund is ready to resume negotiations on the continuation of cooperation with Ukraine, IMF Communications Department Director Gerry Rice said.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12 – The European Parliament has called for the immediate launch of a new EU mediation mission "at the highest political level" to secure a peaceful outcome to the current crisis in Ukraine.

KIEV, Dec. 14 - Tens of thousands of Ukrainians rallied in support of President Viktor Yanukovych in central Kiev on Saturday, separated by a line of riot police from anti-government protesters who have camped out for weeks in a nearby square, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Dec. 15 - The European Union said on Sunday it was halting work on a landmark trade and political pact with Ukraine, hardening their rift even as tens of thousands took to the streets of Kiev urging President Viktor Yanukovych to mend ties with Brussels.

KIEV, Dec. 15 – A failure to reach an agreement on lower natural gas prices between Ukraine and Russia will mostly hurt the people, not the government, Volodymyr Lytvyn, parliamwntary speaker, said Thursday.

The comment comes days after Cazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the agreement will not be reached this year as everyone had previously expected.

KIEV, Dec. 15 – Ukraine and the European Union will probably not initial a political association agreement at their Kiev summit on December 19, Leonid Kozhara, a lawmaker from the governing Regions Party, said Thursday, citing an undisclosed communication from Brussels.

KIEV, Dec. 15 – Ukraine International Airlines has asked the Ukrainian authorities not to allow the failure of the privatization of a state-owned stake in its statutory capital and provide equal access for all domestic air carriers to the country's airports.