Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko, who has until midnight to decide whether to nominate his "orange revolution" arch-rival Viktor Yanukovych for the premiership, had urged leaders of the parliamentary majority led by Yanukovych's pro-Russian Party of Regions to sign a unity pact on key policy areas, while threatening to break up parliament and call new elections if they failed to do so.
"Unfortunately the national unity agreement has not been signed, as the main five political forces of Ukraine could not reach an understanding on the key priorities of the Ukrainian Constitution and national development," Viktor Yushchenko said.
Yushchenko is also holding consultations on the dissolution of the Supreme Rada with leaders of parliamentary factions. His press service said he would act in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Through the roundtable talks on signing a unity agreement, the president had hoped to ensure that the government pursued his reformist goals for Ukraine, including joining NATO and securing Ukrainian as the sole national language, ideas that have been strongly resisted by Party of Regions.
