Disillusioned Ukrainian voters gave the archenemy of the 2004 Orange Revolution a first-place finish in the initial round of presidential voting Jan. 17, setting up a showdown with the heroine of the Orange movement.

Pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych finished first in the hard-fought contest ahead of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, clearing the path for a runoff between the pair sometime next month.

The two candidates stood on opposite sides of the barricades during the peaceful mass demonstrations that kicked out a reputedly corrupt government in 2004, when Yanukovych had the backing of the Kremlin and Orange forces denounced Russian interference.

Today, both candidates say they will abandon efforts to join NATO and pledge to repair ties with Russia, the region's dominant power.

President Viktor Yushchenko, who was elected in 2004 with 52 percent of the vote, was among the also-rans with support from just 6 percent of voters.