Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has postponed a planned visit to Malta, the Ukrainian presidential website said in a statement today, saying the president needed "to focus on domestic political issues".

A spokesman for the Maltese government confirmed that the trip, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, has been cancelled.

Mr Yanukovich finished a four-day visit to China today.

The Nationalist Party said that while it was ready to meet the Ukrainian leader face to face to explain its concerns about developments in Ukraine, it was not prepared to attend official events including the State dinner.