Ukraine's new president, Viktor Yanukovych, signed on Friday a raft of decrees on economic reform and the fight against corruption and poverty.

"I have just signed a decree aiming to combat poverty. I promised the people that I would do all I could to restore justice at this difficult time for our country. To raise wages and pensions. And today I have done just that. It was the first decree I signed," Yanukovych said.

He said his second decree set in motion structural reforms that would enable Ukraine to build a strong economy, and the third targeted corruption.

"Thus, we have taken the first three steps to drastically restructure the entire state mechanism, which will serve the people," he said.

Yanukovych stressed that by issuing the decrees he was fulfilling his election pledges.

The texts of the decrees have to be officially published before they take effect.

KIEV, February 26 (RIA Novosti)