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.

KIEV, Dec. 28 ??“ Ukraine, the biggest shipper of Russian natural gas to the European Union, said Thursday it is ready to further increase the shipments if price dispute between Russia and Belarus causes supply disruptions Monday.

KIEV, Dec. 28 - The Ukrainian government??™s energy sector regulating body increased average natural gas price on residential market by 25% starting Jan 1, 2006, the National Committee for Power Regulation (NCPR said Wednesday.

MOSCOW, Dec. 28 - Ukraine and Russia made little progress in natural gas talks in Moscow Wednesday and will continue discussions Thursday in a final effort to avert a clash next week, an official said.

KIEV, Dec. 28 - President Viktor Yushchenko met key government officials and top security advisors Wednesday exploring Ukraine's options of appealing to the world's nuclear powers in response to the escalating natural gas dispute with Russia.