EU/RUSSIA SUMMIT: The crisis in the Ukraine is set to overshadow an EU-Russia summit in The Hague tomorrow as MEPs step up calls for tough EU action against Kiev report Denis Staunton in Brussels and Conor O'Clery in New York
In the United States, the State Department has expressed "deep concern".
The European Parliament's chief observer at the elections, Polish MEP Mr Marek Siwiec, said yesterday that the official result defied common sense. He said the turnout between the first and second rounds had risen by 5 per cent and that all new voters appeared to have backed the prime minister, Mr Viktor Yanukovich. "It looks as if everybody who decided to vote in the run-off supported Mr Yanukovich. It is against common sense." He said turnouts in some areas of more than 99 per cent reminded him of North Korea.
EU foreign ministers this week described the vote as fraudulent but the European Commission said yesterday that it would not consider taking action against Kiev until the result was announced officially, which could be as late as December 6th.
The election has highlighted sharp differences between the EU and Russia over Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin offering support to Mr Yanukovich, while the EU and the US hoped Mr Viktor Yushchenko, would win.
The Commission's chief spokeswoman, Ms Francoise Le Bail said yesterday that the EU would discuss the Ukraine situation with Mr Putin tomorrow.
Mr Putin, unlike his counterparts in the EU and the US, has congratulated Mr Yanukovich on Sunday's result and he yesterday condemned the EU foreign ministers' statement casting doubt on the result. He said the statement "was inappropriate because the results of the elections have not been announced yet".
In Washington, there is concern about the unfolding crisis. "There are reports of widespread abuse and fraud in the second round of Ukraine's presidential elections," said State Department spokesman Mr Adam Ereli.
"We call on the Ukrainian authorities to curb additional abuse and fraud, to uphold its international commitments to democracy and human rights, and to act to ensure an outcome that reflects the will of the Ukrainian people."
US officials are believed to be concerned that the crisis could lead to a cooling of relations with Moscow. Mr Erlie said that if the election proved to be "fundamentally flawed" the US would "certainly need to review our relations with the Ukraine and consider further steps against individuals who had engaged in fraud".