Campaigning Ends In Ukraine Ahead Of Presidential Poll

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is expected to make it into the second round

Campaigning ends today in Ukraine ahead of the January 17 presidential election.

Polls show Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko trailing Viktor Yanukovych. President Viktor Yushchenko -- who beat Yanukovych in the 2004 "Orange Revolution" -- is not expected to make it to the second round.

Both Tymoshenko and Yankovych promise to improve ties with Russia that suffered under the pro-Western Yushchenko.

Analysts say any new future leadership will have to revive a shattered economy and take control of collapsing state finances that have been propped up by a $16.4 billion International Monetary Fund bail-out program.

compiled from agency reports