Russia told Ukraine on Tuesday it had transferred the first $3 billion tranche of a $15 billion bailout, part of plans to keep Kiev firmly within Moscow's orbit and out of the European Union's embrace.

• December 24, 2013

Russia closed a deal on Friday to buy Ukraine's newly-issued $3 billion Eurobond, part of a $15 billion bailout of its smaller neighbor, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said.

• December 23, 2013

Finnish nuclear consortium Fennovoima said it had signed an expected deal with Russia's Rosatom to build and invest in its 1,200 megawatt reactor, planned to begin operations in northern Finland in 2024.

• December 21, 2013

The International Monetary Fund signed off on Friday on Cyprus's progress in meeting the conditions of its bailout program, giving the euro zone country another $114 million.

• December 21, 2013

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, left prison on Friday after a pardon from President Vladimir Putin ended a decade in jail that many saw as the fallen oil tycoon's punishment for daring to challenge the Kremlin.

• December 20, 2013

A $15 billion Russian aid package for Ukraine began to take shape on Thursday as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich went public in defense of the deal, but offered no concessions to persuade thousands of protesters to leave the streets.

• December 20, 2013

Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Wednesday described a $15 billion aid package from Russia as a historic deal to allow the ex-Soviet republic return to economic growth, as protesters in Kiev voiced anger over a "sell-out" to Moscow.

• December 18, 2013

Russia has agreed to resume oil supplies to a refinery in Ukraine, traders said, in a sign Moscow is ready to reward the country's president for spurning a trade deal with Europe in favor of ties with its former Soviet master.

• December 17, 2013