Published in Interfax

Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko intends to invite the EU trade commissioner (Peter Mandelson) to attend a Ukrainian cabinet meeting. The government's press service said that while informing cabinet members at a meeting today of the (Ukrainian) delegation's visit to Brussels on 28-29 January, Tymoshenko said: "As soon as Ukraine gets accepted to the WTO, we'll be expecting the EU trade commissioner to visit us. This will happen in February so that dynamic and, as far as I'm concerned, very laconic talks start on creating an EU-Ukraine free-trade zone in an expanded context, i.e. including all of the four components: goods, services, capital and workforce."

Read More...

Published in UNIAN

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko was awarded by the “Woman’s Magazine” as the strongest woman of Ukraine. The prize has a big name of “Woman’s Oscar”, and is presented basing on the results of voting of the magazine’s audience.

Read More...

Click Icon to Watch Video

Published in EuroNews

After the victory of the Orange coalition in last year's general election in Ukraine, Yulia Timochenko has become the country's prime minister. Her first foreign visit was to Brussels, where she has held a series of meetings with European leaders. In our interview, Timochenko presents her view on the building of the Ukraine-EU relationship, how it is progressing, and how it is seen on both sides.

Read More...

Published in The Moscow Times
By: Anders Aslund

After Ukraine's extraordinary parliamentary elections on Sept. 30, it took no less than 2 1/2 months to form a government, and it was confirmed by the slightest of parliamentary margins. The new coalition government headed by Yulia Tymoshenko, however, has started ambitiously and auspiciously.

Read More...

Published in Inform issue #61
See the full issue here.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko presented the key provisions of her cabinet’s programme to EU officials on 28-29January. During what was her first visit to Brussels since securing her premiership, Ms Tymoshenko met with leading figures including the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering. The key points discussed included:

Read More...

Published by Council of the European Union

Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), today had a working lunch with the Ukrainian prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

Mr Solana congratulated Mrs Tymoshenko on her new government and on the important work she has already started to perform.

Read More...

Published in The Moscow Times / Bloomberg / AP

The European Union supports Ukraine's attempt to revise its natural gas agreement with Russia, which would allow the country to sign a long-term accord, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Tuesday.

Read More...

Brussels, 28-29 January 2008

Published by iBYuT

During a working visit to Brussels, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko presented key provisions of her cabinet’s program to EU officials.

Read More...

Brussels, 28-29 January 2008

Published by iBYuT

During working meetings with key European Union officials, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko highlighted her efforts to introduce European standards of government and business transparency into Ukrainian civil society.  These efforts, known as the Tymoshenko Transparency Initiative (TTI), are a critical platform of her government’s program.

Read More...

Published in ForUm

The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, pays a two-day visit to Brussels.

According to the government’s press service, on January 28 Yulia Tymoshenko is expected to hold a meeting with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Secretary General of the European People’s Party Antonio Lopez Isturiz, Chairman of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering, representatives of committee of the EP on Foreign Affairs and parliament cooperation Ukraine-EU and representatives of foreign mass media.

Read More...

Published in Forbes
By: Maria Danilova

Ukraine is seeking to buy natural gas supplies directly rather than going through an intermediary company partially owned by Russia, the country's prime minister said Monday, citing corruption concerns.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, on a two-day visit to Brussels, was meeting with EU officials about energy and economy issues.

Read More...

Published by iBYuT

Investors Meeting, 24 January 2008: Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Vice Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria, Minister of Finance Viktor Pynzenyck, Minister of Economy Danilishin

Prepared Comments by Prime Minister Tymoshenko:

Read More...

Published in Reuters

A World Trade Organization (WTO) accession committee approved Ukraine's membership bid on Friday, clearing the way for the former Soviet republic to join the body, trade officials said.

"The Working Party has adopted Ukraine's accession package," one diplomat said after the meeting's conclusion at the WTO's Geneva headquarters.

Read More...

Published in Global Insight
By: Natalia Leshchenko

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and all economy-related ministers in her government have attended a meeting with top managers of foreign companies and representatives of international organisations. Tymoshenko suggested establishing an advisory council for foreign investment at the cabinet of ministers to help it create a favourable investment climate in the country. She also announced the intention of the cabinet to introduce a programme on "transparency initiatives". In particular, Tymoshenko wants to target judicial corruption and do so by putting court chairman positions on a rotating or elected basis, and introducing a system of automated allocation of cases to avoid bribery. Tymoshenko reiterated her commitment to making privatisation and procurement auctions fully open and transparent. As another anti-corruption measure, the government is opening a telephone line where businessmen can report extortion by officials they have faced,Kommersant Ukrainereports.

Read More...

Published by iBYuT

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko of Ukraine met with more than 250 investors on Thursday to outline progress in her government's efforts to improve the investment climate in Ukraine.

Accompanying the Prime Minister in the meeting were Vice Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria, Minister of Finance Viktor Pynzenyck, and Minister of Economy Bohdan Danylyshyn.

The format included presentations by each minister, along with comments by representatives of the European Business Association (EBA), EBRD and Ernst & Young. The meeting, which included an extended Q&A session, lasted more than two hours.

Read More...

Published in NRCU

This was voiced by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko at a meeting with investors today. Yulia Tymoshenko noted that the program is being polished now in the parliament.
Read More...

Published in NRCU

The Cabinet will coordinate improvement of investment climate via fulfillment of initiatives of transparency, to be passed by the government, shortly.This was disclosed by PM Yuliya Tymoshenko at a meeting with Ukrainian and foreign investors.

Read More...

Published in ForUm

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko promises to create comfortable conditions for investors work in Ukraine. She stated today at the meeting with investors.

Tymoshenko promised to change everything that investors are not satisfied with and noted that it is time to cooperate with the Governmnet.

Read More...

Published in Kyiv Post
By: Dariya Orlova

The European Union agreed Jan. 17 on the final terms for Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the supposed last hurdle on its arduous path toward membership.

“This is an important day for Ukraine,” EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelsohn said after Jan. 16 negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation led by Hryhoriy Nemyria, vice prime minister for Euro-integration.

Read More...

Published by iBYuT
Thursday, 1 PM, January 24, 2008, 
Cabinet of Ministers Club, 7 Institura, in Kyiv
 
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko will hold a meeting with foreign and domestic investors to continue the dialogue initiated in her "Contract With Investors."
 
Read More...

Published in Inform issue #60
See the full issue here.

Last Wednesday Ukraine overcame the final hurdle to joining the 151-nation World Trade Organization (WTO), when Vice-Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria negotiated successfully an agreement on export duties with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in London. Finalizing the agreement paves the way to the formal acceptance of Ukraine’s accession request at the next meeting of the WTO general council in Geneva on 5-6 February.

Read More...

Published in ForUm

On January 20, within the framework of events connected with inauguration of President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, Vice Prime Minister for European and International Integration of Ukraine Hryhoriy Nemyria met with Prime Minister of Georgia Lado Gurgenidze. Government’s press-service reports.

During the meeting the sides discussed bilateral cooperation in political and trade-economic spheres. Further clear prospects for intensification of relations of Ukraine and Georgia at all levels have been outlined.

Read More...

Published in UNIAN

At press conference on friday, the Vice Prime Minister for European and International Integration Hryhoriy Nemyria stressed that Ukraine’s accedence to NATO to be decided only on the basis of all-Ukrainian referendum, according to the government’s press-office.

Read More...

Published in Interfax

Ukraine will not use its membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against other countries, including Russia, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria said.

"Ukraine's accession to WTO will by no means be used against any country whatsoever, including Russia," the deputy prime minister told a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

Read More...

Published in UNIAN

First Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Turchynov held a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, according to the government’s press-office.

During the meeting the sides have discussed the state and prospects of further development of trade-economic and investment cooperation between Ukraine and the USA.

Read More...

Published by iBYuT

Within a month of forming her coalition government, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is already delivering on promises made in her “Contract with Investors” by advancing trade opportunities with the WTO and the EU.  In what EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson called an "historic day, a very important breakthrough for Ukraine,” Tymoshenko’s newly-formed government cleared the way for WTO accession and an EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by achieving a mutually satisfactory compromise on export tariffs between the EU and Ukraine.
 
Read More...

Published by iBYuT

Vice Prime Minister for European Integration Hryhoriy Nemyria travelled to London on 16 January to meet with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in order to break the impasse between the EU and Ukraine on WTO accession.  Previous Ukrainian governments had been unable to overcome conflicts with the EU over export tariffs, preventing Ukraine’s WTO accession and limiting Ukraine’s ability to integrate more fully with the EU in trade and other EU Neighborhood Policy programs. 
 
Read More...

Published by IBYuT
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and key advisors met with Senator Richard Lugar in Kyiv on Tuesday, January 15, to discuss a variety of issues including bilateral relations, WTO accession, energy security and Euro-Atlantic integration.  The meeting was the second time in less than a year that the two have met; in April 2007, Senator Lugar met with the Prime Minister while she was still leading the Opposition.  During a press conference given by Senator Lugar at the residence of U.S. Ambassador William Taylor, the Senator stated that the economic development efforts “substantiated Ukraine’s membership in the WTO this year.”   During his visit, Senator Lugar also met with President Yushchenko. Read More...

Published in Financial Times
By: Alan Beattie in London and Roman Olearchyk

The European Union yesterday paved the way for Ukraine to join the World Trade Organisation, a move which will admit a highly productive agricultural and steel economy and give Kiev power to delay Russia’s entry to the global club.

Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, said he had reached agreement with Ukraine on the capping of export duties on a number of products including metals, animal hides, live cattle and other agricultural goods. Under WTO rules each existing member can block new members from joining unless they make trade reforms.

Read More...

Published in Reuters

The European Union cleared the way on Wednesday for Ukraine to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after Kiev agreed to a deal on the duties it applies to exports, an EU official said.

Ukraine is the biggest country besides Russia and Iran outside the 151-member WTO which oversees global trade.

Read More...

Published in Business Week

The European Union said Thursday it has cleared the final hurdles in talks about Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization adding it will soon open talks for a comprehensive free trade accord with Kiev.

Read More...

Published in Interfax

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has basically approved a draft of its program entitled "Ukrainian breakthrough for the sake of people and not politicians" and intends to submit it to the Verkhovna Rada for endorsement.

"The draft program has been approved unanimously," Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said at a governmental meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Read More...

Published in ForUm

Vice Prime Minister for European and International Integration Hryhoriy Nemyrya held a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Ilkka Kanerva, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. Government's press office reports.

Read More...

Published in UNIAN

Korrespondent Magazine named Yulia Tymoshenko as its “Person of the Year”, according to the government’s press-office.

As chief editor of the magazine Vitaliy Sych noted, in 2007 Yulia Tymoshenko had become “Person of the Year” for the second time for being the main figure which had influenced the political events in the country last year.” One can dispute over Your views but one can only admire Your resoluteness and consistency,” he stressed, adding that Yulia Tymoshenko was the first person which had received the “Person of the Year title twice. “To present day there was not such a person in Ukraine – You are the first,” Vitaliy Sych said. The chief editor has presented to Yulia Tymoshenko her portrait as an award. 

Read More...

Published in ForUm

First vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Olexander Turchynov has informed People’s deputies at the conciliatory council that the government will submit for consideration the VRU the program of its activity. Turchynov told journalists on Monday.

Read More...

Published in Eurasian Home Analytical Resource
By: John Marone

It’s a new year, and Ukraine has a new government headed by a fiery reformer with a penchant for making high-stake gambles. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is known as the gas queen – more for how she earned her money back in the 1990’s than for how she has tried to clean up her country’s gas sector in more recent years. But clean it up she has tried, against highly formidable of opponents at home and abroad.

Read More...

Published in Houston Chronicle / AP

Thousands of Ukrainians streamed to state bank offices Friday to get full or partial compensation for savings lost amid the 1991 Soviet breakup _ a promise of newly appointed Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that some analysts caution could hurt the economy.

The payments, which are to be made by the state bank Oshchadbank, were, however, slow to come. Dozens of anxious people waited in lines in at least three of the bank's offices in the capital, Kiev, on Friday morning and were told by bank officials there was no money to pay them.

Read More...

Published in ForUm

“The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine made European integration in Government’s activity as a strategy priority by having approved the Government Action Program “Ukrainian Breakthrough: for People, not for Politicians” as the basis,” Vice Prime Minister for European and International Integration Hryhoriy Nemyrya told. Government's press service reports.

Read More...

Published in Kyiv Post

Within weeks of returning as Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko demonstrated her commitment to wide-ranging reforms and government re-prioritizing.

Most significantly, she has fulfilled promises to trim lawmaker perks, doubled government financing for Ukraine’s cultural and arts institutions and promised an overhaul of the corruption-plagued energy sector.

Read More...

Published in UNIAN

On January 3, 2008 the US-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) and the Cargill Company hosted a meeting in Washington, DC with William Taylor, US Ambassador to Ukraine, on current political, economic and business developments in the country. Over 65 members and guests attended the meeting.

Ambassador Taylor said that the coming of the new Tymoshenko government to power is a positive sign for the prospects for further reform. He described two possible scenarios for the new Cabinet.

Read More...

Published in Interfax

Ukraine was recently on the verge of losing its gas transportation system, said Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

"I think we were several weeks from losing our powerful state property, which is of geopolitical significance, for good," Tymoshenko said when opening a government session in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Read More...

Published in NRCU

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted this document at its session today. According to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the program will be will be finalized at the Cabinet session January 16.

Read More...

Published in ForUm

Government has approved the expected gas balance for 2008. Fuel and Energy Minister of Ukraine Yury Prodan informed today.

According to Prodan, volume of imported gas in Ukraine this year will comprise 55 milliard cubic meters; own production of gas will comprise 20 milliard cubic meters.

Read More...

Published in AFP

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has telephoned Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili with congratulations on his election win, the Ukrainian cabinet's press service said Monday.

Read More...

Published in Reuters

Ukraine has thrown a $2.4 billion lifeline to state energy firm Naftogaz, which analysts say is in technical default on a $500 million Eurobond, a state budget summary published on Friday showed.

"It is stated that in 2008 a state guarantee is offered by the government ... if needed under the obligations of Naftogaz on foreign loans taken before Jan. 1 2008, of an amount (equivalent to) the loans but no more than 12 billion hryvnias," parliament newspaper Holos Ukrainy cites the budget as saying.

Read More...

Published in Reuters
By Sabina Zawadzki

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on Wednesday the state energy firm Naftogaz, in technical default on a $500 million Eurobond according to sources, is close to bankruptcy.

The new premier, a former gas magnate who has long accused the country's energy sector of corrupt practices, said after a meeting with new Naftogaz head Oleh Dubyn that a government commission will investigate the company's activities.

Read More...

Published in RIA Novosti

Ukraine's newly elected Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko ordered on Wednesday to set up a commission to check the financial activity of the country's gas monopoly Naftogaz.

Earlier in the day, Tymoshenko said the national oil and gas company Naftogaz was on the brink of bankruptcy and blamed "financial frauds" for the situation.

"These people, their business and their work with Naftogaz should be thoroughly checked" within a month, the premier said.

Read More...

Published in Inform issue #58
See the full issue here.

Ukraine’s new government passed its first major test when the parliament approved the 2008 Draft Budget and the president signed it into law. Some 235 deputies, including 8 from the non-aligned Communist Party, voted in favour of a package of budgetary measures that deliver on many of the pledges made by the democratic forces during the recent election campaign.

Read More...