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Thousands of Ukrainians Protest Scrapping of Trade Pact With E.U. Thousands of Ukrainians Protest Scrapping of Trade Pact With E.U.
(34 minutes later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Tens of thousands of people marched through downtown Kiev on Sunday to protest the government’s decision last week to abandon far-reaching political and free trade agreements with the European Union, and instead focus on improving economic ties with Russia. KIEV, Ukraine — Tens of thousands of people marched through downtown Kiev on Sunday to protest the government’s decision last week to abandon far-reaching political and free-trade agreements with the European Union, and instead focus on improving economic ties with Russia.
Waving European Union flags, as well as the flags of Ukraine’s main opposition parties, a sea of demonstrators chanting “Ukraine is Europe!” marched from Shevchenko Park through Independence Square, the main site of Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution, and on to European Square for a rally in front of Ukrainian House, a famous building that houses a convention center. Waving European Union flags, as well as the flags of Ukraine’s main opposition parties, a sea of demonstrators chanting, “Ukraine is Europe!” marched from Shevchenko Park through Independence Square, the main site of Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution, and on to European Square for a rally in front of the famous Ukrainian House, which houses a convention center.
Clusters of riot police were deployed along the route, drawing jeers from marchers but not interfering with the event.Clusters of riot police were deployed along the route, drawing jeers from marchers but not interfering with the event.
Blue and yellow were the colors of the day, as some marchers wrapped themselves in sky-blue and pale yellow flag of Ukraine, while others wore the dark blue flag with yellow stars of the European Union. Blue and yellow were the colors of the day, as some marchers wrapped themselves in the sky-blue and pale yellow flag of Ukraine, while others wore the dark blue flag with yellow stars of the European Union.
“Ukrainians want to live as Europe,” said Vladimir Klitschko, who was standing in for his brother, Vitali, the boxing champion and a member of Parliament who leads the political party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform but was unable to get to Kiev. (Vladimir Klitschko is also a boxing champion, and the party’s acronym, UDAR, spells a word meaning “punch.”) “Ukrainians want to live as Europe,” said Vladimir Klitschko, who was standing in for his brother Viltali, the boxing champion and a member of Parliament who leads the political party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform but was unable to get to Kiev for the rally. “I am confident that together we will get there, and I am certain that we will win.”
“I am confident that together we will get there,” Mr. Klitschko said. “And I am certain that we will win.” Ukrainian news agencies reported that Vitali Klitschko had been out of Ukraine to celebrate his daughter’s birthday and that although he had tried to return for the protest, his plane was not able to land because of bad weather. Fog hovered over Kiev for much of the day, with slate skies threatening a downpour that never arrived.
The political and trade accords, which had been in development for more than four years, had been scheduled to be signed later this week at a major conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. But on Wednesday, the Ukrainian government announced that it had suspended its plans to complete the agreements. The political and trade accords, which had been in development for more than four years, were scheduled to be signed later this week at a major conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. But on Wednesday, the Ukrainian government announced that it had suspended its plans to complete the agreements.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that harsh terms set by the International Monetary Fund for a financial aid package were the “last straw” that led to the decision to ditch the agreements. But critics said the real reason was intense pressure from Russia, which had maneuvered forcefully to derail the agreements.Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that harsh terms set by the International Monetary Fund for a financial aid package were the “last straw” that led to the decision to ditch the agreements. But critics said the real reason was intense pressure from Russia, which had maneuvered forcefully to derail the agreements.
Another crucial factor was the country’s domestic politics. As a condition for signing the accords, European officials had demanded the release of Ukraine’s jailed former prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko, a main rival of President Viktor F. Yanukovich. In addition to Mr. Klitschko’s party, the main participants in Sunday’s demonstration were Ms. Tymoshenko’s party, called Fatherland, and the nationalist party Svoboda.Another crucial factor was the country’s domestic politics. As a condition for signing the accords, European officials had demanded the release of Ukraine’s jailed former prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko, a main rival of President Viktor F. Yanukovich. In addition to Mr. Klitschko’s party, the main participants in Sunday’s demonstration were Ms. Tymoshenko’s party, called Fatherland, and the nationalist party Svoboda.
While Mr. Azarov told lawmakers that the government’s only choice was to abandon the agreements given the country’s financial troubles, Mr. Yanukovich, who plans to run for re-election in 2015, has said little about the decision though he has sued statements saying that Ukraine would remain on a path toward European integration. While Mr. Azarov told lawmakers that the government’s only choice was to abandon the agreements given the country’s financial troubles, Mr. Yanukovich, who plans to run for re-election in 2015, has said little about the decision, though he has issued statements saying that Ukraine would remain on a path toward European integration.
The conflicting statements are characteristic of Ukraine’s often inscrutable politics and its increasingly untenable position between the competing demands of Europe and Russia.The conflicting statements are characteristic of Ukraine’s often inscrutable politics and its increasingly untenable position between the competing demands of Europe and Russia.
According to European officials, Russia had threatened to retaliate with trade sanctions that would have been particularly damaging to eastern Ukraine, a main base of support for Mr. Yanukovich.According to European officials, Russia had threatened to retaliate with trade sanctions that would have been particularly damaging to eastern Ukraine, a main base of support for Mr. Yanukovich.
President Vladimir V. Putin and other Russian officials have denied strong-arming Ukraine. Mr. Putin said he had merely pointed out that a free-trade agreement between Ukraine and Europe would require Russia to take steps to prevent its market from being flooded with cheap European goods.President Vladimir V. Putin and other Russian officials have denied strong-arming Ukraine. Mr. Putin said he had merely pointed out that a free-trade agreement between Ukraine and Europe would require Russia to take steps to prevent its market from being flooded with cheap European goods.
The Kremlin has urged ex-Soviet republics that have been in talks with the Europeans, including Ukraine and Moldova, to instead consider instead joining a customs union Russia has formed with Kazakhstan and Belarus. The Kremlin has urged former Soviet republics that have been in talks with the Europeans, including Ukraine and Moldova, to consider instead joining a customs union that Russia has formed with Kazakhstan and Belarus.
In September, after meeting with Mr. Putin in Moscow, President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia abruptly announced that his country had dropped its negotiations with Europe and would join the customs union.In September, after meeting with Mr. Putin in Moscow, President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia abruptly announced that his country had dropped its negotiations with Europe and would join the customs union.
Ukraine is facing an increasingly severe economic crisis and experts predict that it will shortly be in need of more than $15 billion in assistance. Its government has been in talks with the International Monetary Fund for months about a loan package but has complained bitterly about the potentially onerous terms, including demands for a steep rise in public utility rates. Ukraine is facing an increasingly severe economic crisis, and experts predict that it will shortly be in need of more than $15 billion in assistance. Its government has been in talks with the International Monetary Fund for months about a loan package but has complained bitterly about the potentially onerous terms, including demands for a steep rise in public utility rates.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: November 24, 2013

An earlier version of this article misidentified the Klitschko brother who spoke at the rally. It was Vladimir Klitschko, a boxer, not Viltali Klitschko, the boxing champion and a member of Parliament, who leads the political party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform.