Yulia Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of Ukraine's Orange revolution, came to pay homage yesterday at the feet of Baroness Thatcher, the veteran former leader of the Conservative party.

The two diminutive, blonde, female, former Prime Ministers sat down to tea at the Goring Hotel in London to discuss the dark days of the Cold War - and possibly also motherhood, pearls and iconic political hairdos.

Mrs Tymoshenko, whose advisers were cheekily billing the private meeting as "Mrs T meets Mrs T", praised Lady Thatcher as Britain's saviour and thanked her for championing freedom for the former Soviet bloc states of Eastern Europe.

Political observers say that Mrs Tymoshenko, the fiercely ambitious leader of the Ukrainian opposition, may have been hoping for some of the Iron Lady's stardust to rub off on her campaign, as elections near on September 30.

Lady Thatcher's aims were less clear, although she is known to enjoy homage, and to feel aggrieved that little of it is forthcoming from David Cameron and the Conservative leadership.

There was plenty of praise from her tea companion.

"I have long admired Lady Thatcher, and drawn inspiration from her success in transforming her country from being the sick man of Europe into one of Europe's strongest economies, and raising UK living standards to one of the highest in the world," said Mrs Tymoshenko.

"Her model has been followed and emulated by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Nicholas Sarkozy.

"She was firm in adversity and stood up to oppression when others remained seated. Her words spoke for countless millions across Eastern Europe who had no voice.

"She helped write a new chapter for our nation and we remain indebted to her courage."

A beaming Lady Thatcher appeared animated at the encounter, and even permitted the Ukrainian politician to put an arm around her shoulders.

She wished Mrs Tymoshenko well for the future, expressed a hope that the Ukrainian elections would be free and fair, and as the meeting ended bestowed on her a signed copy of her political memoirs.

Last week Lady Thatcher caused a stir when she took tea with Gordon Brown, once a vehement political opponent, thus directing the political limelight away from Mr Cameron's efforts to launch a Conservative policy document on the environment.

Some Tories claimed that Mr Brown had taken advantage of the "frail, lonely" Lady Thatcher for a photo opportunity, but others asserted that the former Premier knew perfectly well what she was doing.

Lady Thatcher appears to be fast becoming a political monument to whom it is fashionable to pay tribute. US Republican presidential hopefuls Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney have all recently paid her a visit.

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