Viktor Yanukovich, the humiliated loser of Ukraine’s 2004 “Orange Revolution”, staged a remarkable comeback yesterday after President Viktor Yushchenko nominated him as prime minister, in an attempt to end four months of political deadlock.

Mr Yushchenko, who defeated Mr Yanukovich in the 2004 election, accepted he had run out of constitutional options early yesterday and reluctantly turned to his pro-Moscow rival after reaching an agreement to safeguard Ukraine’s commitment to adopt pro-western policies.