Ukraine today vehemently denied the existence of secret prisons allegedly run by the US Central Intelligence Agency on Ukrainian soil.

Russia and the European Union are expected to unveil a broad-ranging partnership accord at a summit on Tuesday that represents an attempt to reinvigorate relations after a troubled year.

The Russian government is weighing a variety of economic sanctions that could be imposed against Moldova in retaliation for what it considers unfriendly actions by the former Soviet republic, the Interfax news agency today quoted a top Russian diplomat as saying.