Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma on Thursday arrived in Moscow for urgent talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Ukraine's political crisis triggeredby last month's disputed presidential election. (Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

Ukraine would fail to solve the current political deadlock without Russia's help, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at a meeting here Thursday.

"Without Russia's efforts to settle the political crisis, Ukraine would fail to overcome it with dignity," Kuchma said.

Putin said, "We are ready to take part in the settlement, and Russia will always be together with Ukraine," according to Interfax news agency.

He also stressed that the Ukrainian people have the final say on the settlement of the political crisis sparked by the Nov. 21 presidential election, while the world community can only act as mediators.

Putin called on all parties concerned to abide by the constitution and laws, warning that Ukraine would break down if the constitution was breached.

Putin said the Ukrainian opposition's idea to have a re-vote ofthe disputed second round of presidential election to solve the political standoff is useless.

"It will avail nothing. A re-vote can be held for the umpteenthtime, until one of the parties obtains the results it covets," theItar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Kuchma, who supported pro-Russia Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, proposed holding an entirely new presidential election,not just a re-run of the disputed second round.

Ukraine has been bogged down in a political crisis since Nov. 21 when the presidential run-off handed victory to Yanukovich and sparked opposition accusations of vote rigging.

Though being declared winner of the disputed election, Yanukovich cannot be inaugurated until the Supreme Court rules on the opposition demand that the election result be invalidated.

Pro-western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has refused to concede defeat in the vote and is demanding a quick re-vote.