But after calls from outgoing president Leonid Kuchma for talks between the two sides, Yanukovych stepped aside.
Yushchenko will now become president has been reported.
The turmoil in the Ukraine followed a day of claims and counter-claims about the disputed presidential election, which has been condemned internationally as not being "free or fair".
Um where did you get that, I've checked all the news sources, to include Ukrainian, and haven't seen anything, just Kuchma calling for negotiations.