Yanukovych apologizes to Ukraine's people, says wil stay with them till the end

"I would like to address the people of Ukraine," Yanukovych said excitedly. "I want to apologize to everyone who suffers and who has suffered. I will be doing everything I can til the end of my life,"  assured Yanukovych.

Yanukovych says end of the current authorities is near

Viktor Yanukovych also addressed the current authorities of Ukraine. "You will bear full responsibility for that, the end is clear," he said. "Never will the people of Ukraine to live with you in such a country."

Yanukovych hopes to learn Putin’s attitude to situation in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday he hopes to learn the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation around Ukraine in a personal conversation.

“I have had no meeting with Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. As soon as I hold this meeting, I will understand his attitude, and we will probably discuss the current situation,” the fugitive Ukrainian leader told journalists at a news conference in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don when asked if the Russian leadership considers him Ukraine’s president.

He emphasized once again that he remains the legitimately elected president of Ukraine.

Yanukovych also said he believes Russia to be a strategic partner, adding that he is surprised that Putin “keeps silent.

East Ukraine to riot when industry stops, says Yanukovych

East Ukraine will rise as soon as factories stop, Yanukovych said at his press conference. "I lived in East Ukraine for 52 years," reminded he. "I very well understand the mentality of this people. While people work at factories, coalmines, while they have a  three shift schedule, they are busy and they get salary, they won't go anywhere," Yanukovych said. "but as soon as these factories stop and the people are left with no money to live on, East Ukraine will rise, the whole industrial Donbass region will rise," finished viktor Yanukovych.

No data on Russian special task units presence in Ukraine — Yanukovych

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said he had no data on the presence of Russian special task force units in Ukraine.

“When I was in Ukraine everyone was terrorised by Russian special task force units. I’m also terrorised that anything can happen with me,” Yanukovich told a news conference.

“I had no such information. Now I haven’t such information. These are rumours that anyone spread,” he said.

No property or accounts abroad, says Yanukovych

"As for money and property abroad, I have never had that," said Viktor Yanukovych." Neither have I had bank accounts abroad," added Ukrainian President.

Yanukovych bought hos house for $3.2 mln from his savings. The house became his office and residence in Kiev after an assassination attempt in the 1990's.

Yanukovych says has been in constant talks with Putin, but primarily on economic issues

Yanukovych stated that he had been in constant talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but they mainly discussed economic issues.

“I had many talks with Putin, we have been in constant dialogue, but our dialogue concerned our economic interests — Ukraine and Russia,” Yanukovych said in reply to journalists’ questions at a news conference in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Friday.

Yanukovych not to ask for military support

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday at a news conference in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don he would not ask other countries for military support.

“I believe that any military operations in this situation are inadmissible. I am not going to ask for military support,” Yanukovych said.

He also stated that he is absolutely against Russia's interference in the Ukrainian conflict.

Situation in Ukraine — terrible theatrical performance

Yanukovych calls the situation in Ukraine a terrible and bloody theatrical performance. He says the script wasn't written in Ukraine.

"A theatrical performance is taking place, with militants and authors of this bloody script participating," Yanukovych said. "There hasn't been a more engaged party in the conflict than me and my team to stop the bloodshed and to stop everything peacefully. This script can't have been written in Ukraine," he said.

Yanukovych explains legitimacy as President

Yanukovych says he's the legitimate President of Ukraine. He said he didn't resign and without a constitutional impeachment he is still acting and legitimate leader of the country.

“If the incumbent president does not resign under the Constitution, if he is alive (and I’m alive as you see) and if an impeachment is not declared in the parliament, he is president,” Yanukovich told a news conference.

“Thus, I cannot recognize the impeachment, which was declared by the parliament. I consider it the performance. I never recognize it,” the Ukrainian president said.

Yanukovych said he did not recognise and had not recognised the laws that the parliament “approved by violence”.

“I’ve never signed them. So these laws have not been approved,” he said.

Yanukovych surprised at Putin's silence

Viktor Yanukovych considers Russia a strategic partner and can't understand why he still is silent. Russia is obliged to act in current situation, he adds.

Yanukovych says implementation of agreements with opposition still on agenda

Implementation of agreements with the opposition that were signed in the presence of foreign mediators remains on the agenda, President Viktor Yanukovych told a news conference here Friday.

“A meeting (with the mediators) is needed for discussing everything,” he said.

Yanukovych apportioned all blame for Ukraine’s disastrous situation to Maidan chieftains, as well as to the US and other Western nations.

Tymoshenko release - legal matter

Yanukovych feels sorry for Ukraine's ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko. He said her agreement with Russia cost Ukraine $20 mln. Her release is a legal matter and it is to be discussed by specialists, Yanukovych said.

Yanukovych apologizes to Berkut riot police.

Ukrainian riot police Berkut are outstanding people, says the President. "They stood and suffered, and I once again apologize to them," Viktor Yanukovych said.

Yanukovych also said he didn't give orders to the police to shoot at the protesters.

Yanukovych not to run for presidency

Viktor Yanukovych will not run for presidency on May 25 2014. He says the election is illegal.

USA to blame for situation in Ukraine

Viktor Yanukovych blames the USA for the situation in Ukraine. He said US supported extremists in the country.

Yanukovych adds the West initiated the agreement witgh radicals, pushed it through, and therefore can be blamed for the events.

Yanukovych says does not condemn MPs who took decisions at gunpoint

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych, who is staying temporarily on the Russian territory, said here Friday he does not condemn the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada who were forced to take decisions at gunpoint.

Crimea to remain within Ukraine

As a legitimate President, Yanukovych said that Crimea must remain a part of Ukraine. The events in Crimea are a natural reaction to a coup attempt. The citizens won't  obey nationalists, Yanukovych noted.

Yanukovych to meet Putin

Viktor Yanukovych said he hasn't met Vladimir Putin yet, but will meet him as soon as there's time for that. He also noted that he isn't going to ask for Russia's military support.

Yanukovych in Kharkiv at his old friend's

Viktor Yanukovych explains why he is in Rostov-on-Don. He says he's got a good friend in the city and is staying at his friend's.

Yanukovych came to Russia with help of "patriotic officers", he says.

Yanukovych will return to Ukraine when his safety can be guaranteed. He also needs international mediators to guarantee his safety.

Yanukovych went to Kharkiv at night due to security reasons

Viktor Yanukovych says he went to Kharkiv at night due to security reasons because there was information on radicals in Kharkiv, that might be dangerous to his life. On the way to Lugansk Yanukovych's helicopter was blocked. Then he moved by car.

Viktor Yanukovych apologizes to the Ukrainian people

Yanukovych says he apologizes to the veterans and to the Ukrainian people for what has happened in the country.

Agreement with protesters was signed to stop the violence

The agreement to settle the crisis involved  disarmament of the radicals, says Yanukovych. He believed in decency of the mediators, but he was let down. The agreement was to stop the crisis, but what started later can hardly be called peace, adds Yanukovych. The power in Ukraine was seized by pro-fascist roughnecks.

Yanukovych says he hasn't been ousted

Viktor Yanukovych has started the conference. After greeting he says he hasn't been ousted, but left Ukraine due to security reasons. He says there was a threat to his life and the lives of his family members.

The conference if lead by first deputy director of ITAR-TASS news agency Mikhail Gusman.

About 200 journalists have gathered for a press conference of Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych in Russia's Rostov-on-Don

About 200 journalists have gathered for a press conference of Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych in Russia's Rostov-on-Don.

An hour before the conference it was almost impossible to get through to the doors of the conference hall.

Viktor Yanukovych hasn't been seen publicly since last Sunday.