By Stefan Wagstyl,
Published: February 3 2006
Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Ukrainian prime minister, yesterday attacked President Viktor Yushchenko for considering a coalition government with Viktor Yanukovich, his arch-enemy in the Orange Revolution, saying such moves would lead the country into "a political dead end".
She warned her former ally that a coalition with Mr Yanukovich, his rival in the disputed 2004 presidential election, would lead to a takeover of power by Mr Yanukovich's forces.
Speaking to the FT in
Under a deal hammered out during the Orange Revolution between Mr Yushchenko and former president Leonid Kuchma, power is being transferred from the presidency to parliament so the new parliament will, for the first time, control the formation of the government.
In the immediate aftermath of the
The president put out feelers to Mr Yanukovich, resulting in a temporary agreement for Mr Yanukovich's party to confirm Mr Yushchenko's new prime minister, Yuri Yekhanurov. Now there is talk in
Ms Tymoshenko referred to such a coalition as the "axis of security". She condemned plans for it as "an enormous mistake". Referring to the personalities of the cautious Mr Yushchenko and the aggressive Mr Yanukovich, she said it would be "clear who would dominate".
Ms Tymoshenko said the ideal solution would be to recreate her partnership with Mr Yushchenko before the polls but said a post-election coalition was a "realistic" option. She dismissed suggestions that Mr Yushchenko was in a strong position because he could play her off against Mr Yanukovich.
"Mr Yushchenko doesn't have a choice between me and Mr Yanukovich because a deal with Mr Yanukovich would be a total loss of power for him."
She said she agreed with Mr Yushchenko on his economic and foreign policies but had split over the problems left behind by Mr Kuchma such as powerful business groups and unsolved crimes.
Ms Tymoshenko warned westerners not to underestimate the strength of the reactionary forces in
Ms Tymoshenko repeated earlier criticism of the deal reached by



