UEFA boss Michel Platini is to request assurances on Euro 2012 preparations from new Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich when they meet today.

The Frenchman yesterday started a two-day tour of Ukraine’s four host cities and has witnessed delays in Lviv’s stadium construction and the lack of hotels in Donetsk.

Two weeks ago the Ukrainian minister of family, youth and sports, Ravil Safiullin, revealed renovation works for the stadium that will host the Euro 2012 final in Kiev were five months behind schedule.

“We have trusted in Ukraine for a long time already and we have trusted in Poland for a long time, and we would like to see that things are moving in the right direction,” Platini said, mentioning the two countries that will co-host the tournament.

Earlier this week Euro 2012 minister Borys Kolesnikov announced plans to invest 26 billion Ukrainian hryvnias ($3.3 billion) in 2010 for stadiums, airports and infrastructure works.

April 9, 2010