Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko called Sunday on voters in the upcoming presidential elections to reject the two leading candidates, who he said would do Russia's bidding.

Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych, most popular in the Russian-leaning east of Ukraine, is the frontrunner in the January 17 elections, while Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, an ally-turned-bitter-rival of Yushchenko, is expected to come second and force a runoff vote.

"The Moscow project must not win on January 17, because Tymoshenko and Yanukovych are the best representatives of a united Kremlin coalition," Yushchenko was quoted as saying by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.

The incumbent president, who is seeking a second term but trails in opinion polls with around 5% support, said there was no difference between the two leading candidates.

"It doesn't matter if this one or that one becomes president, it will be about the same," Yushchenko told a rally in the Lvov region of traditionally nationalist western Ukraine.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev have deteriorated markedly during Yushchenko's presidency. Russian leaders have said they hope to establish constructive cooperation with the new Ukrainian president, ruling out any rapprochement with Yushchenko.

However, having been accused of seeking to influence the disputed 2004 election, when Yushchenko beat Yanukovych in a rerun forced by the "Orange Revolution" street protests, Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it will not interfere in the internal affairs of Ukraine.

KIEV, January 3 (RIA Novosti)