International mediators were renewing efforts today to defuse Ukraine’s political crisis, with the opposition and government locked in a tense stand-off awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the disputed results of the presidential election.

European mediators are renewing efforts today to broker a solution to Ukraine’s disputed presidential election as the government and the opposition remained locked in a tense stand-off.

Ukraine’s two rivals for power failed in nearly three hours of talks to resolve the political stalemate over who will lead the bitterly-divided nation.

THE rivals for the Ukrainian presidency sat down and talked last night with European and Russian envoys and the man they both hope to succeed.

The rivals at war over the Ukrainian presidency sat down and talked tonight with the man they both hope to succeed and European and Russian envoys.

Thousands of Ukrainian opposition supporters encircled government buildings in Kiev today, refusing to let anyone through as they intensified their protests against the outcome of disputed presidential elections.

As Ukraine’s political opposition savoured a court victory blocking official publication of results in a disputed presidential election, three European envoys were headed to the ex-Soviet republic today on a quest to nudge the two candidates’ camps into talks.