Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko called...

Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych, most popular in the Russian-leaning east of Ukraine, is the frontrunner in the January 17 elections, while Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, an ally-turned-bitter-rival of Yushchenko, is expected to come second and force a runoff vote.

"The Moscow project must not win on January 17, because Tymoshenko and Yanukovych are the best representatives of a united Kremlin coalition," Yushchenko was quoted as saying by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.

The incumbent president, who is seeking a second term but trails in opinion polls with around 5% support, said there was no difference between the two leading candidates.

"It doesn"t matter if this one or that one becomes president, it will be about the same," Yushchenko told a rally in the Lvov region of traditionally nationalist western Ukraine.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev have deteriorated markedly during Yushchenko"s presidency. Russian leaders have said they hope to

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