Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov will serve for the time being as acting prime minister instead of outgoing Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, in compliance with the Ukrainian law On the Cabinet of Ministers, Azarov's press secretary Vitaliy Lukyanenko told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The president has instructed the Cabinet of ministers to continue performing its duties before a new government can start its work. This means that, in keeping with the law on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the first deputy prime minister will perform the prime ministerial duties," Lukyanenko said.