Ukraine's Yaresko says rumours fuelling political crisis

Ukraine's Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko speaks during a news conference in Kiev, Ukraine, December 30, 2015. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko on Thursday deflected questions about her chances of becoming prime minister if the government collapsed and said such speculation was fanning the flames of the country's political crisis.

Yaresko is touted as a successor to Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, who narrowly survived a no confidence vote in February but whose popularity within the coalition and the voting public has collapsed since taking office in 2014.