KIEV – Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former premier Viktor Yanukovich, longstanding rivals, are on the verge of clinching a deal to form a ‘‘broad coalition’’, Ukrainian media reported yesterday.
Talks between groups led by the two politicians have taken place intermittently for more than a year amid recurring bouts of the political upheaval that have buffeted Ukraine since the 2004 ‘‘Orange Revolution’’ brought pro-Western leaders to power.
The authoritative Internet news service Ukrainska Pravda quoted its sources as saying the leaders, the country’s two most popular politicians in the run-up to a presidential election, had reached a ‘‘preliminary agreement’’ on Saturday.
The deal called for forming a coalition, drafting a programme of common action until 2024, including running jointly in parliamentary elections, and having the president elected by parliament. – (Reuters)