Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych who, according to exit polls and preliminary official data, narrowly won Sunday's presidential election runoff in Ukraine, has pledged to launch reforms to scale down the consequences of the crisis.

Yanukovych, who gained 48.7% to 50.26% according to different exit polls, was facing Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Sunday's second round. Tymoshenko gained 44%-45.6%, making the gap between the candidates 3.1-6.3%. First results from the Central Election Commission with 2% of ballots counted said Yanukovych had 51.36% and Tymoshenko 44.16%.

"I will conduct reforms that will make it possible for us to overcome the consequences of the economic crisis," Yanukovych said in his election headquarters.

Yanukovych also said "a new page opened" in Ukraine's history and pledged to take into account the hopes of those who voted for other candidates.

"I think at these elections we made the first step toward the country's unification, which is very important," he said.

KIEV, February 7 (RIA Novosti)