In Ukraine, Victor Yanukovych has been sworn in as president. Mr Yanukovych's victory in the presidential elections was contested by another candidate, Prime Minister Julia Timochenko. However, she withdrew her claim of electoral fraud last week.

Mr Yanukovych, who is known as being pro-Russian, said Ukraine should be a non-aligned country in Europe. This indicates that he will not aspire to NATO membership or a Moscow-led alliance. His first foreign trip is to Brussels on Monday, not to Moscow.

President Yanukovych succeeds Viktor Yushchenko, who was brought to power by the Orange Revolution in 2004.