Ukraine's outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has flown to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the political crisis sparked by the disputed Ukrainian presidential election.
Russian officials say only that the two men are holding political consultations ahead of Mr. Putin's departure on a visit to India.
In Kiev, Ukraine's Supreme Court continues hearings on opposition claims of fraud in the election. The two election rivals, pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and pro-western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, have agreed to wait on the court ruling before meeting again to try to resolve the standoff
Mr. Yanukovych was declared the official winner of the November runoff election, prompting mass opposition protests.
Mr. Yanukovych and other officials also agreed on the need to preserve Ukraine's territorial integrity. Lawmakers in eastern Ukraine have threatened to declare autonomy if the prime minister does not become president.