President Viktor Yushchenko told Ukraine's prime minister today his decision to dissolve parliament was final and warned his long-time rival against resorting to force.
The pro-Western Mr Yushchenko has been at odds with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich since reluctantly appointing his Moscow-friendly rival last August, nearly two years after being swept to power by the "Orange Revolution" protests.
Mr Yanukovich had dismissed the decree calling an election for May 27th as a "fatal error" and challenged it in court.
"The main issue discussed at the meeting was to ensure strict implementation of the decree on an early election," the president's press service said.
"Viktor Yushchenko, as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, also stressed he would allow no use of force in the country."
Mr Yanukovich told supporters a solution to the dispute would come only through negotiation.
The president said he signed the decree to "preserve the state" after accusing the prime minister of illegally trying to expand his majority in parliament by poaching Mr Yushchenko's allies.
The tough stance adopted by both sides has raised political tensions over two years after Mr Yushchenko defeated Mr Yanukovich in the aftermath of the protests, which forced out a political establishment in power for years.
There was no visible sign of political tension in central Kiev. The hryvnia currency was stable although Ukraine's sovereign dollar bonds sold off on the news.
About 2,000 of Mr Yanukovich's supporters set up a tent camp in Kiev, a much smaller version of the 2004 gatherings. Small groups took flags into Independence Square, focal point of those upheavals.
"The decree is not just a mistake. It is aimed against the country, the Ukrainian people," Mr Yanukovich told supporters in the camp. "The solution can be found only at the negotiating table, through compromise, not by violating the constitution."