to-shoulder with me, on the left and on the right. Together, we will pursue our common Ukrainian idea." Yushchenko, flanked by the allies that will make up his ministerial team, also laid wreaths to mark "unity day" in 1918, when a shortlived state restored control over Ukrainian lands before the encroachment of Russian Bolshevik rule. The election, drawn out over three months, sharpened differences between nationalist western Ukraine and central regions, which supported Yushchenko, and the Russian-speaking industrial east, solidly behind his rival, Viktor Yanukovich. Yanukovich, also backed for a time by Moscow, was declared winner of a November election, but the Supreme Court overturned the result on grounds of fraud and Yushchenko won the re-run. Presidents of at least six countries were expected for the festivities, including Poland, Romania, Hungary, Estonia and Latvia -- ex-communist states committed to European integration. --More 2024 Local Time 1724 GMT
