Tymoshenko: Ukraine coalition talks collapse, Yanukovych ‘ruined everything’KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Sunday that talks with the main opposition party on forming a coalition have collapsed, indicating a continuation of the turmoil that has plagued the country’s politics and hobbled its response to the severe economic crisis.’ Ukraine says it will pay for Russian natural gas by the end of Friday, averting a standoffKIEV, Ukraine — President Viktor Yushchenko said Ukraine would pay for Russian gas deliveries by the end of Friday, meeting a critical deadline and averting a standoff with its neighbor. Ukrainian economy slumps 21 percent in first quarter: audit chamberKIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s economy has slumped by 21 percent in the first quarter, parliamentary auditors said Thursday, the latest in a series of figures highlighting the dizzying dive that the country’s economy has taken. Polish customs officers foil attempt to smuggle 121 threatened tortoises into countryWARSAW, Poland — Polish customs at the Ukrainian border Tuesday found 121 Central Asian tortoises, a threatened species, bound so tightly in black tape that their heads could barely squeeze out from their shells. Bitter rivals hold coalition talks in Ukraine, move could shake up Ukrainian politicsKIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s main opposition party is in coalition talks with its bitter rival, a lawmaker said Tuesday, a move that could isolate President Viktor Yushchenko ahead of the country’s presidential elections. NATO, junior partners wrap up Georgia training exercises that angered Russia in wake of warVAZIANI, Georgia — Georgian and Ukrainian troops neutralized simulated suicide bombers and a mock mob on a wind-swept hilltop military base near the Georgian capital Sunday as part of monthlong military exercises that have angered Russia. UEFA names 4 Euro 2012 host cities in Poland, but only 1 so far in UkraineBUCHAREST, Romania — UEFA chose four cities in Poland to host matches at the 2012 European Championship on Wednesday but said tournament co-host Ukraine could wind up with only two venues unless it makes major infrastructure improvements in the next six months. Official: 9 dead, 11 wounded in gambling hall blast in eastern UkraineKIEV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian emergency official says nine people have been killed in an explosion at a gambling hall in eastern Ukraine. European Union tries to draw ex-Soviet republics closer into EU orbit with Prague summitPRAGUE — The European Union extended its hand to former Soviet republics on Thursday, holding a summit to draw them closer into the EU orbit despite Russia’s deep misgivings. European Union tries to draw ex-Soviet republics closer into EU orbit with Prague summitPRAGUE — Despite deep Russian misgivings, the European Union and six former Soviet republics formally agreed on Thursday to pursue a new partnership meant to draw the eastern nations closer into the EU orbit. Countries barring Mexican pork to face WTO scrutinyMEXICO CITY - Mexico has submitted a request to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) asking eight countries to explain why they were restricting access of Mexican pork products to their markets in response to the swine flu outbreak here. Ukraine and Russia appear close to deal on reducing Ukraine’s imports of Russian natural gasMOSCOW — Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko promised Russia a role Wednesday in the upgrading of its aged pipeline system after Moscow agreed to let its neighbor off from penalties for taking less gas than agreed. Energy summit in Bulgaria exposes divisions over Europe’s pipeline mapSOFIA, Bulgaria — Backers of a pipeline meant to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas clashed Friday at a high-level energy meeting with supporters of a rival project which would strengthen Moscow’s near-monopoly on supplying the continent. British art provocateur Damien Hirst opens his largest exhibit in UkraineKIEV, Ukraine — British art provocateur Damien Hirst will mount the largest exhibition ever of his trademark fish skeletons, skull paintings and dead animals in a major show in Ukraine’s capital. Shakhtar win in UEFA CupDONETSK - Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will take a two-goal lead to France next week after winning their first leg UEFA Cup quarter-final game against Olympique Marseille 2-0. Obama backs NATO expansion, pledges to improve US-Russia tiesWASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama said Wednesday he backs the expansion of NATO to European countries aspiring to join the alliance but also pledged to work towards re-invigorating US-Russian relations. Ukraine insists on four Euro 2012 venuesKIEV - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said his country would provide all four planned venues for the Euro 2012 competition despite severe financial problems. Nine killed in apartment blast in UkraineSIMFEROPOL - Nine people have been killed in an explosion in a building in southern Ukraine, UNIAN news agency reported Thursday. |