Viktor Yanukovich of Ukraine was inaugurated as president on Thursday, promising to tackle corruption, poverty, and political instability in order to regain foreign support for the struggling economy. His swearing-in ceremony was subdued, reflecting the contentious election against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the deep divisions within the country. Despite this, his inauguration marked a comeback from the 2004 Orange Revolution, which had overturned a rigged election in his favor. In his speech to officials, lawmakers, and foreign dignitaries, Yanukovich acknowledged the country's significant challenges, including debt, poverty, corruption, and economic collapse, and expressed confidence in his team's innovative strategy for moving forward. He mentioned the lack of foreign investment in Ukraine, along with its unstable business environment, and emphasized the need to restore political stability, eradicate corruption, and establish clear regulations for the relationship between the government and businesses. These factors are essential for building trust with investors and international financial institutions. Ukraine's economy has suffered due to the global economic downturn, particularly affecting its steel and chemical exports and causing the hryvnia to lose half its value against the dollar in the last 18 months. The country relies on a $16.4 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, which was paused last year and is expected to resume once stability is restored. The finance ministry announced that an IMF technical mission is scheduled to visit on April 7th. This typically results in a thorough visit from IMF officials, who will then determine whether to resume the program. Yanukovich, a former mechanic supported by wealthy industrialists, had a challenging upbringing in eastern Ukraine and has a criminal record for petty offenses. He is expected to improve relations with Russia, Ukraine's former Soviet ruler, following a period of estrangement during Viktor Yushchenko's pro-Western leadership. Yanukovich has suggested potential compromises with Moscow regarding the Black Sea fleet in Crimea and has proposed a consortium involving Russia to manage Ukraine's gas pipelines. However, he aims to renegotiate a decade-old gas supply agreement negotiated by Tymoshenko and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He also mentioned his intention to pursue a well-rounded foreign policy and has made a commitment to strengthening relationships with the European Union. During his speech on Thursday, he emphasized his willingness to maintain positive and beneficial connections with Russia, the EU, and the United States, aiming to achieve the best outcomes for Ukraine. His website later confirmed his upcoming visit to Brussels, scheduled for Monday, as well as his plans to visit Moscow in early March, according to his Regions Party. Yanukovich won the election by defeating Prime Minister Tymoshenko with a 3.5 percentage point lead, although he only garnered the support of one-third of the 37 million eligible voters. The voting results showed a clear divide between Russian-speaking voters in the east and south who supported Yanukovich, and Ukrainian-speaking voters in the west and center who voted for Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko recently gave up her legal challenge to Yanukovich's election, but she still believes he was not rightfully elected. She and most of her parliamentary bloc boycotted the ceremony, casting doubt on the legitimacy of Yanukovich's presidency. Despite Yanukovich's call for a competent executive power, Tymoshenko is refusing to step down as prime minister, leading to ongoing political tension in the short-term. She is working to rally her allies in parliament, while Yanukovich's party is trying to weaken her coalition and form a new one. Creating a coalition involves difficult negotiations and may take a long time. If Yanukovich is unable to form a new coalition, he will have no choice but to hold new parliamentary elections, adding to the ongoing uncertainty.