MOSCOW, Aug. 27 - Talks on a joint venture between Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz are at an "advanced stage," Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, said in a statement.

Gazprom chief Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko focused on the joint venture at a meeting in Moscow on August 27.

KIEV, Aug. 30 – Parliament, at an emergency session on Monday, voted to approve amendments to legislation governing the upcoming local elections by letting a greater number of parties nominate candidates.

BERLIN, Aug. 30 - Chancellor Angela Merkel used a visit to Berlin by President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday to raise concerns about press freedoms in Ukraine, Deutshce Welle reported.

KIEV, Aug. 30 – A Kiev court of appeals on Monday upheld a previous ruling stripping two independent television stations of frequencies, a move that may suspend their expansion in the country’s regions and potentially destroy the channels.

KIEV, Aug. 28 - Investors would only accept proposals on the restructuring of debt on eurobonds issued by Naftogaz Ukrayiny if the government issues sovereign guarantees on the debt, Carl Philipp R. Thomas, a partner at the Luxembourg-based Aequi-Libria consulting firm, told Interfax.

KIEV, Aug. 28 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Friday Naftogaz Ukrayiny will make payment for Russian natural gas imports on time and without relying on money-printing by the National Bank of Ukraine.

DONETSK, Aug. 29 – Ukraine’s political leaders on Saturday joined together for the grand opening of Donbass Arena, a $400 million soccer stadium in Donetsk, one of four that are expected to host the Euro-2012 championship.

KIEV, Aug. 27 - The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council has ordered to the government to ensure the diversification of natural gas sources, suppliers, routes and methods of transportation.

KIEV, Aug. 27 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is planning to discuss issues of economic cooperation at a meeting with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Poland on Sept. 1.

KIEV, Aug. 27 - The Ukrainian government is determined to start technological modernization of the national aircraft manufacturing industry in 2010, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said while visiting the Antonov research and production center on Thursday.