President Vladimir Putin of Russia has backed a total re-run of the disputed Ukrainian elections after a controversial meeting with the outgoing president today.

The meeting between Mr Putin and President Leonid Kuchma at an airport outside Moscow provoked an angry response from the opposition leader Viktor Yuschenko.

He wants any new voting to be limited to himself and Viktor Yanukovych, the newly elected prime minister.

Starting elections from scratch could take up to three months, which would keep Mr Kuchma in office and enable him to have greater control over the process and choice of candidate.

Mr Putin and Mr Kuchma are believed to favour a completely new election so that they can replace Mr Yanukovych with a more moderate candidate who can either unite the country and win hands down, or act as Mr Yushchenko's Prime Minister, but with boosted powers.

The most likely candidate is the parliament speaker, Volodymyr Lytvyn. He met Mr Yushchenko today and is expected to be appointed head of the interim government after parliament's approval on Wednesday of a vote of no confidence in Mr Yanukovych's government.

Mr Yanukovych was declared the winner in the November 21 second round run-off election that was branded as rigged by Yuschenko and many international observers.

Mr Putin, who twice visited Ukraine during the election campaign to back Mr Yanukovych, told Mr Kuchma in televised remarks: "A repeat of the run-off vote may fail to work. The re-run can be held twice, three times, 25 times until one of the parties gets the desired result."

Mr Putin said that he was "very worried" about a break-up of Ukraine, a nation of 48 million which under the Soviet Union was second in importance only to Russia, and added: "We support your actions aimed at maintaining the integrity of the state."

Just after Mr Putin spoke, President Bush said any new election in Ukraine should be"open and fair" and free of foreign influence. Ukrainian voters are awaiting Supreme Court verdict on allegations of vote rigging that could trigger a fresh election.

Mr Yanukovych and the opposition leader Viktor Yuschenko have agreed to reopen discussions on any future election after the decision expected tomorrow.

Times Correspondent Jeremy Page, in Kiev, told Times Online that protestors have been watching the court proceedings on screens in Independence Square.

But he said the legal wrangling and possible compromise had "knocked the wind out of the revolution" and left people feeling confused.

He added: "There's a much smaller crowd here today and traffic is getting through. The so-called revolution seems to have lost a bit of steam.

"They are awaiting the verdict but even that doesn't represent a concrete outcome.

"The country will still have to see if there's a re-run or a completely new election, which could mean new candidates."

The nation has been gripped by massive demonstrations since Mr Yanukovych was named Prime Minister with a majority over nearly one million votes.

Mr Yushchenko said that the vote was rigged and his orange-clad supporters have blockaded many key buildings in the capital of Kiev.

Explore World News

• World Agenda

• Iraq News

• US & Americas News

• Europe News

• Middle East News

• Afghanistan News

• Asia News

• Africa News

• Ireland News

Times Recommends

• Google to digitise Iraqi artefacts
• Renault angers parents by naming new car Zoé
• Analysis: most lawless part of Philippines