Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said...

He said they had "a good working relationship," but "I do not support Yulia Tymoshenko in the election" slated for January.

Putin, who met with Tymoshenko on November 19 in the Ukrainian city of Yalta, said after the meeting that the Ukrainian prime minister was not an easy partner, though it was comfortable to work with her.

"As you know, we have special relations on the party level with the Party of Regions," the Russian premier said during his annual televised question-and-answer session.

A total of 18 candidates have been registered to run in Ukrainian presidential elections. Tymoshenko, along with Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the Party of Regions, are seen as leading contenders.

MOSCOW, December 3 (RIA Novosti)