Ukraine's fugitive president Yanukovych pledges to fight on

Ukrainian fugitive president appeared for first time since February 22 at Russia news conference in Moscow on Saturday.

In his first public appearance since fleeing Kiev, Mr. Yanukovych told “No has deposed me ... I was forced to leave Ukraine because of the threat to my life.”

Mr. Yanukovych also pledged to fight on for his country’s future.

Mr. Yanukovych added that he “intends to keep on fighting for Ukraine’s future” against new Ukrainian authorities he described as “pro-fascist thugs.”

Mr. Yanukovych apologised “for the fact that I didn’t have enough strength to maintain stability and to allow the mess to happen.” His response came when asked by a reporter if he felt ashamed. “I would like to extend my apologies to the veterans, to the Ukrainian people ... for what happened in Ukraine.”

The deposed president called the May 25 presidential elections decreed by parliament “illegitimate” and said he would not participate.

He also told that constitutional reform should be undertaken by September, a referendum be held on questions concerning Ukraine’s future be staged, and fresh presidential elections be held by December.

He said the agreement reached on February 21 by his government, the opposition and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland should be adhered to. It foresaw new elections between September and December.

That agreement was made largely irrelevant, however, after Yanukovych fled the country and the opposition took power.

Ukraine's new leaders tighten grip on power

Ukraine’s Parliament on Sunday voted to appoint its speaker Oleksandr Turchynov as interim President

Ukraine’s opposition on Sunday moved to consolidate its victory over President Viktor Yanukovych, voting to appoint newly elected Parliament Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov as Interim President and moving to form a new government.

Mr. Yanukovych, who fled Kiev for Kharkiv in pro-Russian East on Friday, defied the Parliament’s decision to sack and impeach him, denouncing it as a “coup.” However, his whereabouts were unknown on Sunday amid reports he tried to leave the country but his plane was stopped by border guards in Donetsk, an industrial city close to the border with Russia.

Mr. Turchinov is a close ally of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was jailed for abuse of office two years ago but set free on Saturday by the Parliament’s decision.

Addressing cheering crowds in Kiev’s Maidan square on Saturday night, the fiery “princess” of the 2004 “orange revolution” declared, as 10 years ago, “the end of dictatorship” and called for trying Mr Yanukovych and “his clique” by “people’s court.”

The opposition leaders said they are seeking the arrest of former senior officials, including the Incomes Minister, Prosecutor General and Interior Minister. The three were reportedly stopped Saturday by border control from leaving the country by plane.

Maidan or Independence Square was the epicentre of three-month-long anti-government protests that turned violent in recent weeks, claiming more than 80 lives in clashes between protesters and police. Armed radical protesters have replaced police in Kiev and many pro-opposition cities in Ukraine’s western provinces.

Mr. Tymoshenko announced her decision to run for President in snap elections the Parliament has scheduled for May 25 and is already tipped to win.

The Parliament on Sunday declared null and void a 2012 law that approved the use of the Russian language in courts, schools and other government institutions in provinces where Russian-speakers accounted for more than 10 percent of the population.

The move may further alienate Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions, which on Saturday refused to recognise the legitimacy of new authorities in Kiev and abide by their orders.

Opposition leaders admitted Sunday that Ukraine faced bankruptcy.

“There is absolutely no money on the treasury account,” Speaker-cum-Interim President Turchinov told Parliament, accusing the Yanukovych government of “robbing” the country.

Ukraine’s Parliament on Sunday decided to form an inter-party commission that will try to form a new “national unity government”.

Obama discusses Ukraine deal with Putin over phone

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over telephone about the deal reached between Ukrainian government and opposition and agreed that it should be implemented quickly.

During the conversation, the two leaders said that it was very important to encourage all sides to refrain from violence. Mr. Putin affirmed that Russia wants to remain part of the implementation process.

They also talked about the need to stabilise the Ukrainian economy and to get Ukraine back on a peaceful path. And on both sides, there was a pledge to stay engaged along with the Europeans, a senior U.S. official said.

The White House said the two leaders besides exchanging views on Ukraine also spoke about the situation in Syria, concerns over the humanitarian crisis and the necessity of a strong UN Security Council resolution on the issue.

In addition, they discussed U.S.-Russian cooperation in the P5+1 process on Iran. The President also congratulated Russia on its hosting of the Olympic Games, the White House said.