Ukraine chief, at low point, hosts summit

BRUSSELS, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko, trailing badly in election polls, hosted a top-level European Union meeting in Kiev Friday, observers say.

The gathering, which could be his last as Ukraine's president, was taking place amid what is regarded as a low point in bilateral relations.

With just a few weeks to go to January presidential elections, Yushchenko trailed in sixth place in recent polls with less than 4 percent support.

Yushchenko's five years in office have been marked by political infighting, corruption, lack of reform and mounting tension with Russia, the EU said in an assessment. Ukraine's economy is expected to shrink by 15 percent this year.

Many European nations reportedly have shown frustration over Ukraine's lack of progress toward EU norms.

Delegates are expected to urge the former Soviet republic to fall in line with austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund and to ensure it keeps paying on time for Russian gas.