Ukraine's PM says main task is to build army to stop Russia

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk addresses journalists during news conference in Kiev November 14, 2014. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's top priority is to build an army strong enough to stop Russian military aggression, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Friday, as he made recommendations for top positions in a new coalition government.

The prospect of an all-out war returning to eastern Ukraine has piled pressure on the country's struggling economy, driving the hryvnia currency down by some 17 percent this month and pushing borrowing costs sky-high.