The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was accompanied by a proclamation of autonomy by a segment of Ukraine's Orthodox Church, whose leader is known as the Kyiv Patriarch. Another part of the Orthodox Church - the so-called Moscow Patriarchate - recognizes the Patriarch in Russia. Both churches claim millions of followers and also reflect Ukraine's political divide between those who favor closer ties with Russia and those seeking to orient their country towards Europe.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved parliament on Wednesday evening and announced snap elections in the country.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's party officially pulled out of the ruling pro-Western coalition on Wednesday amid a government dispute over presidential powers and the Georgia-Russia conflict.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko asked the patriarch of Constantinople on Saturday to give his blessing to the country's plans for a national church independent of Russian Orthodoxy.

July 10, Lviv deputies to rubberstamp transfer of city stadium to investor who will modernize it for Euro-2012.

Germany offers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova to establish privileged relationship with the European Union. An Eastern European Union may be formed by example of Mediterranean Union, MEP Ingo Friedrich said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has protested a series of recent statements by senior Russian officials that appear to threaten the integrity and security of Ukraine.

U.S. analysts give Ukraine good marks for economic policies, but agree with the general perception in the country that the government is corrupt. VOA's Barry Wood attended a meeting of experts on Ukraine at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and has this report.

The government of Ukraine will meet Wednesday to consider options in the face further reductions in natural gas deliveries from Russia. VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports that Russia's state-run energy giant, Gazprom, is assuring customers in Europe that their supplies will not be affected.

Ukraine has avoided a gas cutoff by Russia in a last-minute deal reached by the presidents of both nations for re-payment of a Ukrainian energy debt to Moscow. As VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports, the leaders also discussed a range of bilateral issues, including the controversial possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

Russia's giant state-run natural gas monopoly Gazprom is threatening to cut off supplies to Ukraine next week.

SIMFEROPOL, January 4 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian rescue services have resumed search for eight missing crewmembers of a Bulgarian cargo ship that sank Thursday in the Azov Sea between Ukraine and Russia, an emergencies service spokesman said Friday.