Ukraine's president firm against Tymoshenko (AP)

Ukraine's ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Friday went on trial for alleged abuse of power, in a case she has dismissed as revenge by President Viktor Yanukovych.Tymoshenko, wearing a cream-colored suit and holding a pink rose, entered the courtroom to the cries of "Yulia, Yulia" and applause from her supporters."This is a farce and circus and not a court hearing," Tymoshenko, known for her penchant for theatrics, told the judge.

Ukraine's parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, forcing her and the cabinet to resign.A majority of 243 deputies voted for the no-confidence motion brought by the Regions Party, led by Ukraine's new President Viktor Yanukovych, who defeated Tymoshenko in presidential elections last month.At least 226 out of the 450 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada needed to back the no-confidence motion for it to pass.

Ukraine's new President Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday won the chance to form his own government after the parliamentary majority of his rival Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko collapsed.Tymoshenko, narrowly beaten by Yanukovych in a run-off presidential election last month, had until now been able to claim a majority over Yanukovych's Regions Party and stubbornly held onto her post as prime minister.But her majority has now crumbled after a number of lawmakers from minority parties switched their allegiance following her defeat in the February 7 polls.

Ukraine will take a first major step away from dependency on Russian gas supplies on Thursday when it seals a $10 billion shale gas deal with Royal Dutch Shell. Due to be signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the production sharing agreement will mark the biggest contract yet to tap shale gas in Europe and the largest single foreign investment in the former Soviet republic.

Ukraine has paid Russia for October gas supplies, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on Friday, after her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had warned against late payment."Today we've paid Russia the next 500 million dollars (336 million euros)," Tymoshenko said during a visit to the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.Late last week, Putin said Ukraine appeared to be struggling to pay for its Russian gas supplies again and accused President Viktor Yushchenko of seeking to provoke a new gas crisis.

Ukraine's new President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday tightened his grip on power as one of his closest allies became the new prime minister and his party succeeded in forming a ruling coalition.The new coalition replaces the outgoing government of his arch-rival Yulia Tymoshenko, who Yanukovych defeated in February 7 presidential elections, and gives the new president control over all Ukraine's man power centres.

Interactive graphic on Ukraine as the country braces for a tense presidential election run-off on February 7 between old rivals Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko after voters rejected pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko in the first round.