MOSCOW (AFP) - Ukraine's ousted ex-president Viktor Yanukovych said on Monday he respected the result of Sunday's presidential polls, in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.

"It doesn't matter which region it was and what percentage of the population came to vote, whatever choice you made - I respect that choice, made in the most difficult time for our Motherland," Mr Yanukovych said in the statement released in southern Russia where he is in exile, RIA Novosti reported.