WASHINGTON, June 24 – The U.S. State Department does not believe the reports about large numbers of refugees fleeing to Russia from their homes in southeast Ukraine, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

KIEV, June 26 – The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to upgrade the state border with Russia, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Ostap Semerak said.

KIEV, June 26 – Second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who is a member of the tripartite contact group, said that on behalf of the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, he and other members of the group are ready to hold another meeting to resolve the situation in Ukraine's east.

DONETSK, June 27 - Rebels in southeast Ukraine early on Friday released four out of eight international observers, captured over a month ago, in an apparent goodwill gesture that could help pave the way to a resolution of the conflict that has so far claimed hundreds of lives, Reuters reported.

KIEV, June 26 - Ukraine will sign a broad political and trade accord with the European Union on Friday, making a historic shift away from Russia and closer to the West.

The signing is a victory for pro-EU Ukrainians who drove Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovych from power after he abandoned the pact last year in favor of cash from Moscow.

KIEV, June 26 – Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has instructed Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko to work out a plan of development for the network of Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities and the modernization of the gas transportation system by November 2013 to enable the creation of a gas hub in the country.

KIEV, June 26 – Ukraine’s justice minister on Wednesday defended the idea that the government may amend the constitution through nationwide referendum, a controversial stance that may spark fresh protests from opposition groups.

KIEV, June 26 – A luxury tax will be adopted at the next plenary sitting of Parliament, said Vitaliy Khomutynnyk, the head of the parliamentary committee on finance, banking, tax and customs policy.

KIEV, June 26 – Ukraine has no complaints against Russia concerning unfavorable gas contracts it signed with Ukraine in 2009, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.

"It hurts us that the price is so high, that we are being punished for something.

KIEV, June 25 - President Viktor Yanukovych will meet Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Kiev on Wednesday ahead of a planned meeting with the Russian president next month, the presidential service reported Tuesday.