Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko has announced he will run for the presidency in the Ukraine elections.
The Ukrainian Central Election Commission posted a calendar online early today, which gives candidates until 4 April to register for the May elections.
According to AFP , the opposition leader and former heavyweight boxing champion told journalists in parliament: "I will be on the ballot."
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Klitschko had suggested he could well be in the running to replace Mr Yanukovych if presidential elections were arranged.
“We don’t have much time,” he had said, referring to the vote. “I want to make Ukraine a modern European country. If I can do that through the president's position, I will do my best."
A spokesperson for the former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has said she has not yet decided whether to run for presidency after her release from jail on Saturday.
People light candles during a religious service at a church in Kiev
A child lights a candle on a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police on Kiev's Independence Square
Newly freed Ukrainian opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko speaks at Independence Square moments after parliament voted to hold early presidential elections in May. Tymoshenko received a rapturous welcome on Independence Square. 'You are heroes, you are the best of Ukraine' she told the 50,000-strong crowd before breaking down in tears
People visit the Independence square in Kiev
People walk by barrycades and makeshift memorials to the victims of the riots in central Kiev
People lay flowers on the Independence Square in Kiev
Maidan self-defence activists stand on an armored vehicle in central Kiev
People gather for prayers and to listen to speakers in Independence Square
A woman with a Ukrainian flag wrapped around her sholders looks on as she lights a candle at a makeshift memorial to anti-government protesters killed in the past weeks' clashes with riot police
The body of Ustim Holodnyuk (19) who was killed in fighting between anti-government protesters and police, is carried from Independence Square in Kiev
An anti-government protester injured during clashes with riot police receives medical care at a makeshift hospital in Kiev
Protestors build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev
Anti-government protesters shout 'Glory to the Ukraine' as they man a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev
An anti-government demonstrator holds a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev
An anti-government demonstrator builds a barricade with burning tires at the Independent square in Kiev
An anti-government demonstrator throws a burning tire as he build a barricade at the Independent square in Kiev
Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev
Protesters cheer while they managed to break police blockade in Kiev
Anti-government protesters take cover while under fire from police snipers during clashes with riot police in central Kiev
Protesters hold petrol bombs during clashes with police in Kiev
Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev
Protesters walk on a puddle of blood left by a wounded demonstrator during clashes with the police in the center of Kiev
An anti-government protester holds a firearm as he mans a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square in Kiev
An Otrthodox priest gestures after clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in the Independence Square in Kiev
An elderly protester smokes during a break in clashes with police in central Kiev
A protestor carries food for demonstrators on the barricades during the face off against heavily-armed police in Kiev
An anti-government protester reacts following clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev
Two anti-government protesters use a large drum after violence erupted in the Independence Square in Kiev
A man plays the trumpet as anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square in Kiev
Riot police fire at anti government demonstrators on the Independence square in Kiev
Anti government demonstrators carry a wounded comrade during clashes with riot police on the Independence square in Kiev
A protester shouts slogans as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
A protester throws a petrol bomb as he stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
Ukraine's embattled leader announced a 'truce' with the opposition as he prepared to get grilled by visiting EU diplomats over clashes that killed 26 and left the government facing diplomatic isolation
Protesters burn as they stand behind burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
Anti-government protesters continue to clash with police in Independence square, despite a truce agreed between the Ukrainian president and opposition leaders in Kiev
A protester sits on a statue while others stand on a barricade during clashes with police in Kiev
Protesters carry a wounded protester during clashes with police, after gaining new positions near the Independence square in Kiev
Protester carries bottles during the clashes with police in Independence square in Kiev
Protesters walk and stand near a burning bus at the Institutskaya Street close to the central Independence Square in Kiev
Protesters stand behind burning barricades during a face-off against police in Kiev
Protesters escort a 'captured' policeman near Independence square in Kiev
Violent clashes erupted in Kiev following renewed anti-government protests, with the death toll rising to 25
An anti-government protesters prays in Independence Square in Kiev
Anti-government protester throws Molotov cocktail at the police in Independence Square in Kiev
Injured anti-government protester at the Independence Square in Kiev
Anti-government protesters in Independence Square in Kiev
Anti-government protesters carry a roundwood as they gather in Independence Square in central Kiev
An anti-government protester looks on as smoke from a fire rises above Independence Square in central Kiev
Protesters at the Independence Square in Kiev
Ukrainian protesters poured on to a central Kiev square to confront police anew after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence
Interior Ministry officers walk in formation as smoke rises above Independence Square where anti-government protesters are holding a rally in central Kiev
Smoke rises above Independence Square as clashes between anti-government protesters with Interior Ministry members and riot police continue in central Kiev
A trade union building is seen on fire in Independence Square in central Kiev
Interior Ministry members and riot police block a street as anti-government protesters gather in front of them amidst heavy smoke during clashes in Kiev
Ukrainian riot police take cover behind their shields during clashes with anti-government protesters near Independence Square in Kiev
Ukrainian riot police stand in front of the fire ring around of the Independence Square during the continuing protest in downtown Kiev
EPA
Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Independence Square as riot police
Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev
Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images
Anti-government protesters clash with the police during their storming of Independence Square in Kiev. Flames engulfed the main anti-government protest camp on Kiev's Independence Square on Tuesday as riot police tried to force demonstrators out following the bloodiest clashes in three months of protests
Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images
Monuments to Kiev's founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Riot police storm Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
An anti-government protester runs during clashes with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev; smoke is visible in the sky, above the city
Igor Kovalenko/EPA
Smoke from exploding fireworks and fires billows into the night sky as Ukrainians gather on the Independence Square during continuing protest in Kiev
Igor Kovalenko/EPA
Police clash with anti-government protesters in Kiev. Police on Tuesday began an assault on the main anti-government protest camp in Kiev after a day of bloody clashes, AFP journalists at the scene said
Anatolii Boiko/AFP/Getty Images
Anti-government demonstrators stand on barricades during clashes with riot police in Kiev
An opposition demonstrator holds a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in Kiev
Injured anti-government protesters look on a policeman during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
Wounded people walk after clashes with riot police in central Kiev
Anti-government female protesters help an injured comrade during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
Injured anti-government protesters during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
Anti-government protesters carry a wounded man during clashes with riot police in Kiev
Opposition demonstrators evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with police in Kiev
Red Cross workers give first aid to policemen wounded during clashes with anti-government protester in Kiev
An injured anti-government protester lies on the ground during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
Interior ministry members take cover behind shields during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev
Opposition demonstrators stand in front of burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev
Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev
A protester holds a makeshft shield in front of a burning car during clashes with police in Kiev
Anti-government protesters shield themselves during clashes with riot police in central Kiev
Interior Ministry members are on fire, caused by molotov cocktails hurled by anti-government protesters, as they stand guard during clashes in Kiev
Protesters clash with riot police as a rainbow appears during continuing protests in downtown Kiev
Anti-government protesters clashed violently with police in central Kiev, a day after Moscow moved to cement its influence over Ukraine with $2 billion in cash to shore up the former Soviet state's heavily indebted economy
People speak near a barricade on fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members in Kiev
Two wounded policemen are guided to the ambulance cars during an anti-government protest in downtown Kiev
Protesters take over the main office of the ruling Ukrainian 'Party of Regions' political party in downtown Kiev
Anti-government protesters attempt to break a door inside an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev
A protester inside the main office of the ruling Ukrainian Party of Regions political party in downtown Kiev
An anti-government protester dressed in Ukrainian national dress throws a stone during clashes with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
Anti-government protesters gather by the entrance as they attack an office of the pro-presidential Party of the Regions in Kiev
A young anti-government protester looks on during clashes with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliment in Kiev
An anti-government protester wears a gas mask during clashes with Interior Ministry members in Kiev. Several thousand anti-government protesters clashed with police near Ukraine's parliament torching vehicles and hurling stones in the worst violence to rock the capital Kiev in more than three weeks
Thousands of angry anti-government protesters clashed with police in a new eruption of violence following new maneuvering by Russia and the European Union to gain influence over this former Soviet republic
An anti-government protester threatens riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev
Protesters marched toward the parliament to demand constitutional reforms that would curb the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine has been mired in political crisis since November 2013 after the government backed away from a trade agreement with the European Union and signed a 15-billion-dollar loan deal with Russia instead
At least five anti-government protesters were killed and some 150 others injured in fresh clashes between police and demonstrators protesting near Ukraine's parliament building in Kiev
Meanwhile, the interim president Oleksandr Turchynov has delayed plans to form a new government by today, extending the deadline until Thursday.
Addressing parliament, Mr Turchynov warned of the dangers of separatism after the ousting of Mr Yanukovych.
Mr Turchynov summoned the "power ministries and agencies" to discuss Crimea, the site of protests on the southern peninsula against the leaders who have taken charge in Ukraine.
Most of Crimea's population speak Russian and the region has close ties with Russia.
A Russian-speaking mayor has been appointed in Sevastopol, the Crimean port city where Russia's Black Sea fleet is based, and Russian speakers have staged rallies in the region to show hostility to the new authorities in the national capital.
"During the meeting, we discussed the question of not allowing any signs of separatism and threats to Ukraine's territorial integrity (meaning the events which have taken place in Crimea) and punishing people guilty of this," Mr Turchynov's press service said in a written statement.
Earlier today, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Ukraine must not be forced to choose between close ties with Russia or the West.
"It is dangerous and counterproductive to try to force upon Ukraine a choice on the principle: 'You are either with us or against us'," Mr Lavrov told a joint news conference in Moscow after talks with Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
The delicate situation is raising fears of a split between those in the western cities, who see their future as part of Europe, and swathes of the east, where a Russian-speaking population still backs Mr Yanukovych , who refuses to officially relinquish power.
Mr Turchynov was named Ukraine's interim leader after Mr Yanukovych fled the capital amid violent clashes between police and protesters in Kiev.
A criminal case has been opened against him and other government officials over “mass murder of peaceful citizens” following the violent clashes in Kiev’s Independence Square.
Additional reporting by agencies
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