Ukraine assures UEFA election won't derail Euro 2012

Ukraine has moved to reassure European soccer's governing body UEFA that the bitterly contested presidential election called for January will not derail its preparations for the Euro 2012 championship.

"UEFA is worried the forthcoming election in Ukraine may influence the preparations (for Euro 2012)," eputy prime minister Ivan Vasyunyk told reporters on Tuesday.

"We must guarantee by the end of the year... that Ukraine, as UEFA's partner, will guarantee the full financing of all the key projects and infrastructure. This is about one billion hryvnia ($125 million)," he said.

Ukraine is due to co-host the finals with Poland but has been constantly criticised by UEFA for sluggish preparations.

UEFA will decide on December 11 at its executive committee meeting whether Ukraine's cities can host matches.

Work by Ukraine's government has been stymied while the political elite prepares for the first presidential election since the 2004 "Orange Revolution".

UEFA confirmed in May the four Polish cities — Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk — to host matches but said of the proposed venues in Ukraine only Kiev would be ready and even then it was not guaranteed to stage the final.

Ukrainian cities Lviv, Donetsk and Kharkiv had to prove they could be ready by UEFA's December meeting while Warsaw could yet hold the final if Kiev''s preparations do not improve.