KIEV, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian prime minister and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko pledged here on Thursday to bring Ukraine into the European Union (EU) within five years if she could win this weekend's elections.

    Tymoshenko made a last-ditch nationally-televised press conference to the country's voters, indicating the policy differences over Ukraine's EU bid between herself and her main rival Viktor Yanukovich, who is leading the polls and seen as a pro-Russian figure.

    "Ukraine must become a EU member and for me that is a priority. I will do everything so that Ukraine becomes a member of the EU during my presidency," Tymoshenko said.

    She also noted that an association agreement should be signed with EU this year, as well as an accord on the creation of a free trade zone.

    Tymoshenko has traditionally been seen as a pro-EU figure, although she has a warming relationship with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

    Ukraine will hold a presidential election on Jan. 17. A total of 18 candidates are running for the post, including President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich.

    Though local pundits do not expect any of the candidates to win the first round outright, they do think Yanukovich and Tymoshenko are the most likely to face each other in the run-off slated for Feb. 7.