KIEV, Dec. 28 – Three activists involved in a recent anti-government street protest in Kiev aimed against increasing tax pressure on small businesses were arrested on Tuesday, a newspaper reported.

KHMELNYTSKY, Dec. 28 - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is personally responsible for the failure to timely adopt the country's budget for next year, President Viktor Yushchenko said.

KIEV, Dec. 28 – Ukraine and Russia have “practically” completed talks over higher tariffs for crude oil transit to Europe, an official said Monday hours after Russia had sent out a warning the supplies may be suspended.

KIEV, Dec. 28 – The hryvnia may weaken in 2010 if Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko - one of the leading candidates - wins the presidential election next month, a senior official at President Viktor Yushchenko’s office said Monday.

KANIV, Cherkasy region, Dec. 28 - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said she sees no reasons for Moscow to worry about Ukraine's ability to pay for natural gas imports from Russia.

SIMFEROPOL, Dec. 26 – The death toll in a blast that ripped through a five-storey apartment block in southern Ukraine has risen to 27 people, Reuters reported Friday, citing the emergency ministry.

The suspected gas explosion on Wednesday flattened all five floors of the block in the Black Sea resort of Yevpatoria, leaving huge piles of rubble.

KIEV, Dec. 27 – Parliament on Friday approved Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s 2009 budget calling for a deficit at 3% of gross domestic product, jeopardizing a $16.4 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.

KIEV, Dec. 28 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko has vetoed the law on the list of state-owned objects that are to be privatized in 2007.

KIEV, Dec. 27 ??“ Premier Viktor Yanukovych has said that he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the way from Kiev to Boryspil airport on Dec. 22 the issue of possible development by Ukraine of Russian gas fields.

KIEV, Dec. 28 ??“ Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said Wednesday that the country's gross domestic product growth would be about 7% this year, The Associated Press reported Thursday.