You're reading: Yanukovych: Ukraine faces collosal debts, ruined economy

Ukraine's Victor Yanukovych, after being sworn in as president, said he has taken over the reins of power at a time when Ukraine faced colossal debts, a ruined economy and poverty.

"A new period period of our new history is beginning. The country is in a difficult situation," he said in his inauguration speech, saying the former Soviet republic faced "collosal debts, poverty, a collapsing economy, corruption".