Ukraine's Yanukovich says will not run for second term if ratings low

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, whose popularity has been hurt by huge street protests over his policy U-turn towards Russia, said on Thursday he would not run for re-election in 2015 if his ratings were low.        

Answering a question during a televised news conference, Yanukovich, who was elected in February 2010, replied: "If my ratings are low and I have no prospects (of winning), then I shall not get in the way of the country developing and moving forward."      

Yanukovich also criticised opposition leaders, who have brought tens of thousands of protesters onto the streets, for harbouring their own political ambitions and conducting "revolutionary" actions.        

"Personal ambitions have to be kept in check. I am categorically against politicians who have initiated revolutionary actions," he told a televised news conference.     
    
"We have a constitution and law - wait for the elections and the Ukrainian people will have the last word," he told a televised news conference.

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President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia had to act to help its "brotherly" neighbor Ukraine out of economic crisis and that Moscow did not oppose Kiev signing a trade pact with Europe as long as it did not harm Russia's economy.

"Now we see that Ukraine is in difficult straits ... if we really say that they are a brotherly nation and people then we must act like close relatives and help this nation," Putin said in an annual news conference.