KIEV, Aug. 28 - The debt restructuring deal Ukraine has struck with a group of creditors was seen Friday as tantamount to a default of payment, according to ratings agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor's, AFP reported.

PARIS, Aug. 29 - France, Germany and Russia back plans for a complete ceasefire in eastern Ukraine from Sept. 1, the French presidency said after their respective leaders spoke by telephone on Saturday, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Aug. 28 – The 64th World Newspaper Congress and the 19th World Editors Forum will open on September 3 at the International Center of Culture and Art (Zhovtnevy Palace) in Kiev.

KIEV, Aug. 28 – The state will do everything possible to rein in prices of bread in Ukraine, despite a rise in the price of grain on the global markets, and the government could introduce direct support for bakeries, Social Policy Minister Serhiy Tyhypko said.

KIEV, Aug. 30 – Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Thursday rejected speculation Ukraine may be heading towards default and suggested the government will continue a budget policy that challenges recommendations of the International Monetary Fund.

KIEV, Aug. 29 - Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski plans to discuss the situation with Ukraine's Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko during talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych this week, Polish Radio reported on Monday.

KIEV, Aug. 30 – Ukraine plans to cut Russian natural gas imports by two thirds within the next five years, replacing it with domestically extracted resources, like coal, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Tuesday.

KIEV, Aug. 30 — The main suspect in the brutal slaying of an investigative reporter in Ukraine more than 10 years ago alleged on Tuesday that former President Leonid Kuchma played a role in the killing, AP reported, citing a lawyer.

KIEV, Aug. 29 – Yuriy Sukhov, a lawyer for former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, insists that part of the materials of the gas supply contract case have disappeared.

KIEV, Aug. 29 – Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko met with Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Tapani Katainen on Monday, during which he passed an invitation from Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov for Katainen to visit Ukraine in the near future.