Kiev - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko accused the country's government of funding Euro 2012 preparations at only a fraction of what is necessary, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.

"I am not satisfied," Yushchenko said at a meeting of the country's national Euro 2012 council. "National budget financing law is not being followed."

Ukraine's government over the first nine months of 2009 had only spent some 180 million dollars towards Euro 2012 preparations, a sum some 27 per cent of what Kiev had promised European football's ruling body UEFA, Yushchenko said.

"We are not living up to our commitments," Yushchenko said.

The situation was even worse in the area of road repair, where Ukraine's road transportation system had over the same period received 11 per cent of budgeted funds needed to bring Ukraine's transportation infrastructure up to European standards, he said.

A possible solution would be the issue of bonds on foreign markets to raise capital to repair Ukraine's road system in time for Euro 2012, Yushchenko said.

Ukraine has been badly hit by the international financial crisis, with state revenues down 30 per cent as compared to 2008, and deep government cash shortages in critical areas such as public health, pension payments, and education.

Domestic political stalemate has worsened the situation, with groups of MPs from both sides of the aisle physically interfering with - and sometimes destroying - voting equipment in legislature, preventing parliament from voting on almost any legislation.

Yushchenko likewise is in a standoff with parliament, as both sides manoeuvre to shift blame for Ukraine's poor economy, as the country counts down to a January presidential election.

Ukraine still must pay out an estimated 4 billion dollars into sports and tourism infrastructure in the next 30 months, to prepare for its share of hosting responsibilities in the Euro 2012 tournament.

UEFA in April 2007 named Poland and Ukraine as co-hosts for the high-profile event. Since then Ukraine has struggled in its preparations with political infighting and cash shortages dogging its efforts.

The structure of the Ukraine's government has added an additional level of complexity to the country's Euro 2012 dealings, with some government agencies responsible for getting ready for the football championship answering to President Yushchenko, and others to Yushchenko's rival Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was elected by parliament.(dpa)