Yulia Tymoshenko

According to exit polls, confectionery tycoon Petro Poroshenko wins 55% of the votes in Ukraine’s presidential elections.

The elections were marked with low turnout in the eastern part of the country, where polling stations were closed in many places by the pro-Russian separatists.

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko comes far behind in second place with 12.8%.

Ukrainians are going to the polls to vote in a new president after months of unrest following the ousting of former President Viktor Yanukovych.

Eighteen candidates are competing in the contest, which is widely seen as a crucial moment to unite the country.

Ukraine has began a Day of silence on May 24, a day before the early presidential elections scheduled for Sunday, according to international media reports.

On the same day, elections of mayors will be held in seven regional centers - Kiev, Nikolaev, Odessa, Sumy, Kherson, Cherkassy and Chernovtsy.

Ukrainian presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko has vowed to initiate a referendum on EU and NATO membership, if she is elected.

The former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has revealed her plans to run for the country's presidency during the elections in May.

Tymoshenko revealed during a press conference that she will ask delegates of the Batkivschyna Party to nominate her as a presidential candidate during the party congress on March 29, Ukraine's Interfax agency reports.

Ukrainian former heavyweight boxer and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko has announced he will run for president at the elections scheduled for May 25.

He declared his bid on the first day of the election campaign, which started on Tuesday as the Ukrainian Central Election Commission posted a deadline until 4 April for registration of candidates.

Russia withdraws ambassador from Kiev

KIEV -- As reported by the BBC, Russia has decided to withdraw its ambassador from Kiev, while EU High Representative Catherine Ashton is expected to arrive in Ukraine.

According to this report, Russia made the decision because of the deteriorating situation in Ukraine.

The freed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko gave a moving speech in front of thousands of people on the Maidan square in Kiev.

Tymoshenko was freed from prison after 2.5 years behind bars on accusations of abusing her powers in office.

Despite her ailing health, Tymoshenko spoke from a wheelchair in front of a massive crowd.

During an emergency session of parliament on Saturday, 314 out of 450 lawmakers voted to elect opposition leader Oleksandr Turchynov as Ukraine's acting prime minister.

In another sign of how the nation is changing power, parliament has appointed Arsen Avakov as Ukraine's acting interior minister.

Ukrainian Parliament voted to free ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from prison by decriminalizing the article in the criminal procedural code under which she was convicted.

A constitutional majority of 310 lawmakers voted for the measure, the KyivPost reprorts.