Ukraine's rival president and prime minister forged a compromise today to hold a parliamentary election on September 30 but much work remained ahead to stage the poll and restore political stability in the ex-Soviet state.
Pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko announced the date after talks stretching until dawn with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, his rival from the 2004 "Orange Revolution".
Months of confrontation between Mr Yushchenko and Mr Yanukovich, lionised by Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, over a division of powers had plunged the country deep into crisis.
"We have great news for this holy day. The political crisis in Ukraine is over," Mr Yushchenko said as he emerged from a church service marking the Orthodox Trinity holiday.
A carnival atmosphere pervaded the city as it marked the second day of "Kiev day" festivities with parades and concerts. Tensions came to a head on Friday when the president said he was taking control of 30,000 interior ministry troops and then ordered new units sent to the capital.
None of the forces had been seen in Kiev and local media quoted an interior ministry spokeswoman as saying the men were being sent back to bases. Mr Yanukovich was to address a rally next to parliament later in the day alongside assembly speaker Oleksander Moroz.
Both Mr Yanukovich and Mr Yushchenko were due to attend the Ukraine Cup final soccer match later today. Attention will now turn to the often fractious parliament which, under the deal, must approve a set of laws over two days this week to enable the snap poll to proceed.