KIEV -- A top aide to Viktor Yushchenko, confident that the Western-leaning reformer will be inaugurated as president within days, said Wednesday that Yushchenko next week will begin a push to bring the country into the European Union.

Despite a complex appeal of the December election results by losing candidate Viktor Yanukovych, which is being heard in the Supreme Court, Yushchenko's inauguration appeared increasingly likely. The court ruled Tuesday that the election results could be published in official government newspapers as of Thursday, a key step in setting an inauguration date.

Once the results are published, the Supreme Court cannot rescind them, lawyers said. After that ruling, Yushchenko's staff said the inauguration would likely be Friday or Saturday.

Next Tuesday, Yushchenko plans to appear before the European Parliament to present plans for bringing Ukraine into the EU, aide Oleh Rybachuk was quoted as saying by Interfax.