1.   A millionaire right-wing businessman who favours stronger ties with Russia on Wednesday announced he was joining the race for the Polish presidency.

2.   Both men favour stronger ties with Russia.

3.   Moroz was backed by parties favouring closer ties with Russia including moderate reformers close to former premier Leonid Kuchma, communists and centrists from the Agrarian party.

4.   Strakhov is well known to favour close ties with Moscow, while Rossel champions regional autonomy in economic and other matters.

5.   Strakhov is well known to favour close ties with Moscow, while Rossel champions broad regional autonomy.

6.   The Crimean parliament Wednesday dismissed its hardline Russian separatist speaker Sergei Tsekov, who favoured closer ties between Crimea which is part of Ukraine and Russia.

7.   The New Party favours closer ties with China.