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Ukraine alarm at becoming EU-Russia 'battlefield' - PM Russia urged Kiev to delay key EU deal - Ukrainian PM
(about 3 hours later)
Ukraine's PM has expressed alarm at the country becoming a "battlefield" for the EU and Russia, as protests continue over a stalled EU trade deal. Russia had urged Kiev to delay signing a key deal with the EU, Ukraine's prime minister has admitted, as mass protest rallies continue across the country.
Mykola Azarov also said an agreement with Russia had not been finalised on possible new financial support. Mykola Azarov said Moscow had offered to hold trilateral talks on the issue, without giving "any ultimatums".
Kiev last week put on hold a historic trade agreement with the EU, prompting the EU to accuse Moscow of exerting heavy pressure on Ukraine. Kiev last week put on hold the association and free trade deal with the EU, prompting Brussels to accuse Moscow of exerting pressure on Ukraine.
The move triggered mass pro-EU protests in the capital and other cities. The move triggered huge pro-EU protests in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.
"Russia does not give us guarantees, Europe does not give us guarantees, so what are we, a battlefield?" the prime minister told foreign journalists. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied putting any pressure on Kiev, accusing instead the EU of "blackmailing" Ukraine into signing the agreement.
Mr Azarov said President Viktor Yanukovych would attend a summit with the EU this week in Vilnius to discuss possible three-way talks with Russia on Ukraine's economy. 'Battlefield' alarm
Ukrainian officials were supposed to sign agreements with the EU in Vilnius on 28-29 November. Speaking to reporters in Kiev on Tuesday, Mr Azarov acknowledged that Russia had suggested "to delay signing the treaty and to conduct negotiations" between Kiev, Moscow and the EU.
"From the beginning of December, we will sit down at the negotiating table and draw up a 'road map' for re-establishing our relations [with Moscow]," he said. He said Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych would still attend this week's EU summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss the possible consultations with Brussels and Moscow.
'Blackmail' It had been originally planned that Ukraine would sign the treaty with the EU at the 28-29 November summit.
Ukraine's government said on Thursday it was halting preparations for signing the EU trade treaties, amid concern for possible mass job losses in the short-term. Mr Azarov said such three-way talks would be in the best interests of Ukraine: "We absolutely do not want to be a battlefield between the EU and Russia. We want to have good relations with both the EU and Russia."
President Yanukovych said on Monday that he was forced by economic necessity and the desire to protect those "most vulnerable". He also added that separate "road-map" talks with Russia aimed at reviving economic ties would start next month and no agreement had been finalised on possible new financial support from the Kremlin.
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in the largest show of public discontent since the Orange Revolution in 2004 - which saw Mr Yanukovych ousted and a Western-leaning government brought to power. New revolution?
Ukraine's government said on Thursday it was halting preparations for signing the deal with the EU, amid concerns this would have a negative impact on Kiev's trade relations with Russia and cause mass job losses as a result.
Moscow had earlier warned it would be forced to defend its market by raising custom duties on Ukrainian goods.
In a statement, President Yanukovych said on Monday he had been forced to halt treaty preparations by economic necessity and the desire to protect those "most vulnerable".
Tens of thousands of protesters have been taking to the streets of Ukraine's major cities since last week.
On Sunday, more than 100,000 people rallied in the capital Kiev in the largest show of public discontent since the Orange Revolution in 2004 - which saw Mr Yanukovych ousted and a Western-leaning government brought to power.
Mr Yanukovych returned to power in the 2010 presidential election.Mr Yanukovych returned to power in the 2010 presidential election.
Opponents are accusing the president of bowing to growing pressure from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who wants Kiev to join the Moscow-led Customs Union. The grouping also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan. Solidarity rallies have also been staged in a number of European capitals, the US and Canada.
Mr Putin denies the claims, instead accusing the EU of trying to "blackmail" Kiev into signing the agreements. Protesters are accusing the president of bowing to growing pressure from Mr Putin, who wants Kiev to join the Moscow-led Customs Union. The grouping also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in Kiev have opened an investigation into an attack on Monday by protesters in European Square against a security services bus.Meanwhile, prosecutors in Kiev have opened an investigation into an attack on Monday by protesters in European Square against a security services bus.
In a statement, the security service said staff on board were carrying out security measures including checking for radio channels that might be used to detonate bombs.In a statement, the security service said staff on board were carrying out security measures including checking for radio channels that might be used to detonate bombs.
Protesters apparently thought they were using monitoring equipment to eavesdrop.Protesters apparently thought they were using monitoring equipment to eavesdrop.
They attacked the bus, seizing equipment and using tear gas, injuring staff inside the vehicle, the statement said.They attacked the bus, seizing equipment and using tear gas, injuring staff inside the vehicle, the statement said.
It also said members of parliament were involved in the clashes. Video of the incident shows opposition MPs Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Oleg Tyagnybok standing nearby. It also said members of parliament were involved in the clashes.
Riot police surrounded the bus after beating back the protesters.
In a separate development, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of the Orange Revolution who was jailed in 2011 for abuse of power, said on Monday she was starting a hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters.In a separate development, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of the Orange Revolution who was jailed in 2011 for abuse of power, said on Monday she was starting a hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters.
She launched a similar fast last year in protest at her treatment, but stopped it after 20 days.