KIEV, December 11 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko does not regret her decision to support Viktor Yushchenko in the 2004 presidential elections and is ready to unite with the incumbent president "for the sake of Ukraine."
Tymoshenko told the Ukraine TV channel on Thursday she could have run in the country's previous election, but took the decision to support Yushchenko as "there was no other way to unite the country."
"And today, I am ready to join forces with the president for the sake of Ukraine," the prime minister, who has so far been Yushchenko's political rival, said.
A total of 18 candidates have been registered to run in the Ukrainian presidential election due on January 17.
West-leaning Yushchenko, who was brought to power as a result of the 2004 "Orange revolution," is struggling to reach double figures in opinion polls.
Polls point to Yulia Tymoshenko as the leading contender, along with Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the opposition Party of Regions and the president's opponent in the controversial 2004 race.
