MOSCOW, July 14 - The leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) say they see no problems in the expansion of the EU sanction list.

NEW YORK, July 14 - As fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine, signs are emerging that Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a twin strategy: pledge his willingness to support a negotiated settlement, but continue funneling arms to separatist rebels, Reuters reported.

KIEV, July 14 - Ukraine accused Russian army officers on Monday of fighting alongside separatists in the east of the country and said Moscow was once more building up its troops on the joint border, Reuters reported.

KIEV, July 15 - Shakhtar Donetsk FC President Rinat Akhmetov has said he believes that a possible Ukrainian-Russian joint football league should be advantageous, first and foremost, to Ukrainian football.

KIEV, July 15 – Pro-government lawmakers will try to hold a session of the Kiev city council either this month or next despite earlier assurances from opposition groups that they would not let this happen.

KIEV, July 13 - The fifth session of the Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Commission held in Yalta has resulted in intergovernmental agreements on emergency situations and fires, and on the work to deal with the aftermath in places where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based in Ukraine.

KIEV, July 13 - Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, jailed for seven years for abuse of office, had her appeal hearing postponed for five weeks on Thursday so doctors can establish whether she is fit to attend.

KIEV, July 15 – Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn will probably be dismissed at an emergency session of Parliament that is likely to be held within the next two weeks, pro-government and opposition lawmakers said.

YALTA, July 12 - Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia and Ukraine should make every effort to boost bilateral trade.

On Thursday, in the lead-up to a meeting of the Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission, Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych held a face-to face-discussion.

KIEV, July 15 – The Cabinet of Ministers is apparently taken aback by criticism of its tax code proposals.

"I was surprised by the absolutely violent and absolutely biased criticism as if it were ordered in all mass media outlets," said Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said at a meeting with representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Ukraine and foreign business circles.