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Ukraine crisis: Yulia Tymoshenko to run for president – and take on 'enemy number one ' Vladimir Putin Ukraine crisis: Yulia Tymoshenko to run for president – and take on 'enemy number one ' Vladimir Putin
(35 minutes later)
Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has announced plans to run for president in the upcoming May elections. Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko will run for president in the upcoming May elections.
Speaking at a press conference, Ms Tymoshenko told reporters she would run as a "candidate for Ukrainian unity" and had earned the right to present herself as the candidate fighting against corruption. Speaking at a press conference, Ms Tymoshenko said she would run as a "candidate for Ukrainian unity" and had earned the right to present herself as the candidate fighting against corruption.
Ditching her princess hairstyle, she said none of the other candidates understand "the depth of the lawlessness gripping Ukraine" and insisted Russian president Vladimir Putin remains the "number one enemy".Ditching her princess hairstyle, she said none of the other candidates understand "the depth of the lawlessness gripping Ukraine" and insisted Russian president Vladimir Putin remains the "number one enemy".
Often regarded as a divisive figure, she promised to find a "common language" between her pro-European supporters and Russian-speaking supporters of former President Viktor Yanukovich Often regarded as a divisive figure, she promised to find a "common language" between her pro-European supporters and Russian-speaking supporters of former President Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted by the Ukrainian parliament after more than three months of protests in February.
According to opinion polls, chocolate baron Petro Pororoshenko is leading in the race for the presidency with the backing of 24.8 per cent of voters, followed by boxer turned politicians, Vitali Klitschko with 8.9 per cent of the vote. Ms Tymoshenko would be on third place with the support of 8.2 per cent of voters.
Ms Tymoshenko, 53, was released from prison in February following the ousting of her political nemesis Yanukovich. She was imprisoned in 2011 for abuse of office linked to a gas deal with Russia.Ms Tymoshenko, 53, was released from prison in February following the ousting of her political nemesis Yanukovich. She was imprisoned in 2011 for abuse of office linked to a gas deal with Russia.
She rose to the forefront of Ukrainian politics during the 'Orange Revolution' that overthrew Mr Yanukovich's first administration in 2004. She rose to the forefront of Ukrainian politics during the 'Orange Revolution' that overthrew Mr Yanukovich's first administration in 2004. Ms Tymoshenko served twice as prime minister and ran for president in 2010, only to be narrowly beaten in a run-off vote by Mr Yanukovich.
She has already served twice as prime minister and ran for president in 2010, only to be narrowly beaten in a run-off vote by Mr Yanukovic
The announcement comes just hours after the International Monetary Fund pledged a $14-$18 billion rescue package for Ukraine to help the country's acting government meet its debt obligations against the backdrop of Russian intervention.The announcement comes just hours after the International Monetary Fund pledged a $14-$18 billion rescue package for Ukraine to help the country's acting government meet its debt obligations against the backdrop of Russian intervention.
The IMF deal is set to unlock support of $27 billion from various countries over the next two years, but it will come with strings attached, including serious austerity measures and higher energy prices.The IMF deal is set to unlock support of $27 billion from various countries over the next two years, but it will come with strings attached, including serious austerity measures and higher energy prices.
In a statement, the IMF warned Ukraine is facing "difficult" challenges following the "intense economic and political turbulence of recent months".In a statement, the IMF warned Ukraine is facing "difficult" challenges following the "intense economic and political turbulence of recent months".
In an address to the Ukrainian parliament, interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned Ukraine is teetering "on the brink of the economic and financial bankruptcy" and signalled more pain ahead.In an address to the Ukrainian parliament, interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned Ukraine is teetering "on the brink of the economic and financial bankruptcy" and signalled more pain ahead.
Mr Yatsenyuk said new structural reforms, including raising taxes and a freeze on minimum wage, will hit families hard but the insisted the government had "no choice but the tell the truth".Mr Yatsenyuk said new structural reforms, including raising taxes and a freeze on minimum wage, will hit families hard but the insisted the government had "no choice but the tell the truth".
On Wednesday, Ukraine announced a radical 50 per cent increase in domestic gas prices starting 1 May in an effort to secure the IMF bailout, which made the scrapping of energy subsidies a key condition for the deal to move forward.On Wednesday, Ukraine announced a radical 50 per cent increase in domestic gas prices starting 1 May in an effort to secure the IMF bailout, which made the scrapping of energy subsidies a key condition for the deal to move forward.
The election is expected to take place on 25 May.The election is expected to take place on 25 May.