Ukrainian museum says portrait of Venetian Doge in its collection is Titian’s work

Ukrainian museum claims it owns a Titian portrait

Ukraine closes all schools to fight swine flu; Some observers see political overtones

Ukraine closes all schools to fight swine flu

WHO experts visit Ukraine as country erupts in swine flu panic; Some see political overtones

Ukraine in panic over swine flu; WHO team visits

Ukraine lawmakers to discuss child sex abuse at Artek

KIEV - Ukraine’s parliament will discuss Tuesday the allegations about involvement of its three unnamed members and others in child sex abuse at a well-known holiday camp, a report said.

AP Interview: A fresh face among Ukraine’s warring leaders vows to break political deadlock

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s youngest leading presidential hopeful says he flies economy class, vows not to take advice from either Moscow or Washington and promises to fight corruption with “a truncheon in my hands.”

Ukraine president oversees naval exercises off tense Crimea peninsula

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine sent hundreds of troops, five ships and 15 aircraft into the Black Sea region Thursday for day-long military drills off its Crimean peninsula, a potential flashpoint with Russia.

Ukraine’s Naftogaz indicates default on $500 million bonds, but restructuring likely

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s debt-laden state energy company Naftogaz on Thursday effectively defaulted on its $500 million Eurobond issue after it failed to make a payment on time, but a deal on restructuring the debt was expected soon.

Kiev marks 68th anniversary of Babi Yar Nazi massacre with new monument

KIEV, Ukraine — Stone-faced Nazi soldiers wielding rifles marched Kiev’s sobbing Jews to be killed in the Babi Yar ravine as passers-by held back tears in a dramatic theatrical performance meant to mark the anniversary of the massacre Tuesday.

Ukraine’s Yushchenko asks Russia to hand over key figures in his dioxin poisoning

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has urged Russia to turn over important figures in his nearly lethal dioxin poisoning five years ago.

Official: Kiev scraps plans to build hotel near site of Babi Yar massacre

KIEV, Ukraine — Kiev authorities have scrapped a widely criticized plan to build a hotel near what experts say was a killing field used by Nazis during the Babi Yar massacre, officials said Monday.

Ukraine: Jewish groups protest Kiev plans for hotel at Babi Yar, site of Holocaust massacre

KIEV, Ukraine — Jewish groups condemned Thursday a plan by authorities in the Ukrainian capital to build a hotel on what a leading scholar said was a killing field in the Babi Yar massacre, a horrific chapter of the Holocaust.

Analysis: US missile move gives Russia what it wants; will Kremlin offer anything in return?

MOSCOW — The Kremlin got exactly what it wanted when the United States scrapped plans for missile defenses on Russia’s borders.

Ukraine: Elton John too old, too single to adopt HIV-infected boy from Ukrainian orphanage

KIEV, Ukraine — Elton John won’t be able to adopt a 14-month-old HIV-positive child from Ukraine because the pop star is too old and isn’t married, the government said Monday.

Ukraine family minister says Elton John can’t adopt HIV-infected boy

KIEV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian official says Elton John cannot adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian child because the pop star is too old and isn’t married.

Ukraine’s political chaos deepens ahead of January presidential vote

KIEV, Ukraine — The lawmaker strode through parliament, smiling politely and clutching a chair — his contribution to a barricade designed to paralyze proceedings.

Russia’s chief rabbi condemns Ukrainian mayor accused of anti-Semitic remarks

KIEV, Ukraine — Jewish leaders in Ukraine and Russia on Thursday condemned the mayor of a Ukrainian city who called a presidential hopeful “an impudent little Jew,” and Russia’s chief rabbi said he would travel there in a show of support for the local Jewish community.

Ukraine’s president rejects Russian criticism, says Russia to blame for strained ties

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday rejected sharp criticism from his Russian counterpart, saying the Kremlin is to blame for a downturn in bilateral ties.

Lawyer for slain Ukrainian journalist’s widow doubts crime will be solved, despite key arrest

KIEV, Ukraine — The lawyer for the family of a slain Ukrainian journalist said Friday she doubts the arrest of a key suspect will help police track down those responsible for the crime.

Ukraine seeks to restructure debt of troubled Naftogaz energy firm

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s acting finance minister said Wednesday the government has launched talks on restructuring the foreign borrowings of the state energy firm Naftogaz, in a worrying sign that the company at the center of Europe’s natural gas trade is in financial trouble.

Ukraine prosecutors: Skull likely belonging to investigative reporter killed in 2000 found

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian investigators on Tuesday found what they believe are the remains of the skull of a journalist who was kidnapped and decapitated nearly nine years ago, officials said.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch signals he will not allow independent church in Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine — The head of the Russian Orthodox Church rejected calls from Ukraine’s president to create a local Orthodox church that would be independent from Moscow, saying he firmly supports the status quo.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch visits Ukraine in power show, calls for ‘church unity’

KIEV, Ukraine — The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church led solemn prayers in Kiev on Monday, the first day of 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow’s dominance over church leaders in Ukraine.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch visits Ukraine, calls for ‘church unity’

KIEV, Ukraine — The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church has arrived in Kiev for a 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow’s dominance over the church’s leaders in Ukraine.

Biden to Georgia, Ukraine: US will not recognize Russian ’sphere of influence’ claim

TBILISI, Georgia — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday pledged support for efforts by Ukraine and Georgia to break free of Russia’s orbit, saying Washington would not recognize Kremlin claims to an exclusive sphere of influence over former Soviet states.

Biden assures Georgia that America ’stands with you’

TBILISI, Georgia — The Obama administration firmly supports Georgia, but President Mikhail Saakashvili must further encourage democracy, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday.

Former Ukrainian official arrested in slaying of high-profile investigative journalist

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities have arrested a former intelligence official in the slaying of an investigative journalist who was kidnapped and decapitated nine years ago, officials said Wednesday.

Ukrainian authorities arrest key suspect in slaying of high-profile journalist

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian security officials say they have arrested a top suspect who has been at large for nine years and charged with the slaying of an investigative journalist.

Biden rejects Russian sphere of influence over former Soviet nations such as Georgia, Ukraine

TBILISI, Georgia — Washington rejects the Kremlin’s claim to a sphere of influence over former Soviet nations, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden declared Wednesday before receiving a hero’s welcome in Georgia.

Biden tells nervous Ukraine it can choose its own allies regardless of Kremlin’s views

KIEV, Ukraine — Vice President Joe Biden assured a nervous Ukraine that its interests won’t be sacrificed as the United States tries to mend ties with Moscow.

Yushchenko tells Biden that Ukraine wants US investment to upgrade its gas pipeline network

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine wants American investment to help modernize its creaky but strategic natural gas pipeline system, the country’s president told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday.