President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday rejected rising Western pressure to review the conviction of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, raising the stakes as he navigates between Ukraine's powerful neighbors, Europe and Russia.In a meeting with a half-dozen Western reporters at his offices, Mr. Yanukovych appeared unbent by criticism from Europe and Washington that last week's conviction of Ms. Tymoshenko, a former prime minister, on charges of exceeding her authority, was a politically motivated effort to sideline a once-powerful rival. Western officials have pushed for the seven-year jail sentence to be commuted or eliminated. Read the full story here.
EXCLUSIVE
The Wall Street Journal: Yanukovych takes defiant stance
Since he defeated the Western-leaning Tymoshenko for the presidency in 2010, Yanukovych has said he wants to ensure Kyiv has good relations with both Russia and the West.
