KIEV, Jan. 30 ??“ Foreign Minister Boris Tarasiuk, an ally of President Viktor Yushchenko and an advocate of Ukraine??™s accession to NATO, resigned on Tuesday yielding to two months of pressure from pro-Russian government demanding his dismissal.

Yushchenko accepted the resignation following a meeting with Tarasiuk, the presidential press service reported.

The move comes after the government has suspended financing of the Foreign Ministry in order to force Tarasiuk to step down. The government suspended about 90 million hryvnias worth of programs, including the ministry??™s payroll, the program supporting Ukrainian diaspora and purchasing premises for Ukrainian embassies overseas.

???I believe it has been impossible to implement my job functions,??? Tarasiuk said at a press conference. ???I refuse to make the foreign ministry a hostage of the illegal actions of the government.???

Meanwhile, the development may somewhat ease tensions between Yushchenko and pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who has been persistently seeking to slow down Ukraine??™s accession to NATO.

The resignation may also help to avert a scenario when the pro-government coalition nominates and approves its own foreign minister in line with the recently approved controversial law on the Cabinet of Ministers.

The law has been vetoed by the president, but there have been mounting signs that the government may publish it within days to make sure that it takes effect.

Now, Yushchenko will have to nominate a new candidate for the post of the foreign minister that must be approved by a simple majority in the 450-seat Parliament.

Among the likely nominees, political analysts see Oleksandr Chaliy, a deputy chief of staff at the presidential office, and Volodymyr Ohryzko, deputy foreign minister.

The resignation of pro-Western Tarasiuk is a victory for Russia, which has been seeking to slow down Ukraine??™s accession to NATO, which is viewed by Moscow as a military threat.

Russia has persistently warned Ukraine that it would suspend economic cooperation and slap trade sanction if the country joins the alliance.

???The coalition has implemented an order from overseas, namely from Russia,??? Refat Chubarov, a senior member of Our Ukraine, Yushchenko??™s party, said. ???That??™s why I think there would be problems with approving the next foreign minister.???

Meanwhile, the coalition indicated on Tuesday that it was ready to back at least one potential candidate that may be nominated by Yushchenko for the post.

???We are ready to support Chaliy,??? Taras Chornovil, a senior member of Yanukovych??™s Regions Party, the largest group in Parliament, said. ???He would be a professional minister??¦ and is guided by the principle ???Don??™t hurt the state interests.??™??? (tl/ez)