Ukraine Stakes

From CNN: Yushchenko: Ukraine finally free.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has said Ukraine will finally be free after declaring himself the winner of the rerun of fraud-filled presidential elections.

However, despite Western monitors declaring the election came closer to meeting international standards, supporters of the pro-Russian candidate, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych on Monday vowed to challenge the results in court. ...

Yanukovych had the backing of Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Yushchenko has stronger ties to the West.

Rybachak said Yushchenko intended to go to Moscow right away for talks with Putin.

"His first ... trip will be as president to go to Moscow to discuss with President Putin about bilateral relations," said Rybachak. "We clearly under[stand] Russia is our priority and Yuschenko's first trip will be to Putin."

Posted by Forkum at December 27, 2004 04:30 PM