Politics of Ukraine

Around 75,000 troops will be deployed around Ukraine to ensure security in Sunday's presidential elections.

It is still unclear how many polling stations will be opened in the eastern part of the country, where pro-Russian militia still keep tight control.

Russia-China gas deal worth USD 400 billion over 30 years

SHANGHAI -- Russia’s Gazprom and China’s CNPC have agreed on a deal on natural gas supplies to China, Itar-Tass is reporting.

The document was signed on Wednesday in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Russia and China "close to reaching gas deal"

MOSCOW -- Russia sees its relations with China as a priority, President Vladimir Putin has said ahead of his visit to Shanghai.

According to him, the two countries are close to reaching an agreement on natural gas sales.

Ukrainian presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko has vowed to initiate a referendum on EU and NATO membership, if she is elected.

The European Commission has made a new proposal that could prevent gas supplies from disruption in case of a prolonged Russian-Ukrainian standoff.

Its idea involves purchases of Russian gas by Europe's top consumers (which means leading companies) and storage of the resource into Ukraine's depots, according to Russian agency RIA Novosti.

Russian energy giant Gazprom says it will charge Ukraine USD 1.66 B in advance for the supply of gas in June.

Pavel Zavalny, who heads the organisation, told a EU-Russia gas forum in Brussels this week that Bosnia and Bulgaria will face energy difficulties if Russia stops the flow of gas to Ukraine, citing unpaid bills.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry does not recognize the USD 3.5 B sum which Russian concern Gazprom says Naftogaz owes for gas supplies.

Yury Prodan, the Ukrainian Energy Minister, was quoted by RBC Ukraine as saying that Kiev will calculate its debt only under "market prices".

Ukraine’s Party of Regions has demanded the resignation of the acting President, Interior Minister, and head of Security Services over the events in Odessa.

Switzerland's federal prosecutor has frozen USD 193.34M of assets in Swiss bank accounts belonging to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and people close to him.

At the end of February, the assets of 20 Ukrainians, including Yanukovich, were frozen. In March, Switzerland added the names of nine more Ukrainians to the list of people concerned by the measures.