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Why is Ukraine in turmoil? Why is Ukraine in turmoil?
(about 7 hours later)
Violence has erupted in the Ukrainian capital Kiev once again, with dozens of people being killed during clashes between anti-government protesters and police.Violence has erupted in the Ukrainian capital Kiev once again, with dozens of people being killed during clashes between anti-government protesters and police.
The stand-off, which has oscillated between calm and violence for months, escalated dramatically on 18 February, with policemen being shot, and riot police moving in to clear the peaceful protest camp on Independence Square.The stand-off, which has oscillated between calm and violence for months, escalated dramatically on 18 February, with policemen being shot, and riot police moving in to clear the peaceful protest camp on Independence Square.
The stakes for Ukraine and its 45 million people are enormous, with the country's fate now part of a wider strategic battle between the West and Russia.The stakes for Ukraine and its 45 million people are enormous, with the country's fate now part of a wider strategic battle between the West and Russia.
What are the protests about?What are the protests about?
Those on the streets say they are struggling over the future development of the country - will it be a country based on the rule of law, or Russian-style oligarchy and closed interests?Those on the streets say they are struggling over the future development of the country - will it be a country based on the rule of law, or Russian-style oligarchy and closed interests?
The protests broke out after President Viktor Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013, in favour of stronger ties with Russia. Thousands of people, outraged that a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe had been ditched overnight, poured into central Kiev for peaceful protests. They have occupied Independence Square, known as Maidan, ever since. The protests broke out after President Viktor Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013 in favour of stronger ties with Russia. Thousands of people, outraged that a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe had been ditched overnight, poured into central Kiev for peaceful protests. They have occupied Independence Square, known as Maidan, ever since.
Several developments - including violent police attacks on student protesters, severe new anti-protests laws, and the abduction and beating of opposition activists - have caused the demonstrations to spread and intensify. For many people, they are now less about Europe than about getting rid of a president they believe is clinging to power and serving the interests of his own close circle and Moscow.Several developments - including violent police attacks on student protesters, severe new anti-protests laws, and the abduction and beating of opposition activists - have caused the demonstrations to spread and intensify. For many people, they are now less about Europe than about getting rid of a president they believe is clinging to power and serving the interests of his own close circle and Moscow.
Unloved president, radicalised countryUnloved president, radicalised country
Ukrainian voicesUkrainian voices
What caused the latest outburst?What caused the latest outburst?
The sudden deterioration of violence on 18 February - by far the deadliest day since protests began - took many people by surprise. Both sides have blamed each other but who threw the first stone, or fired the first shot, is not clear. The sudden deterioration of violence on 18 February - by far the deadliest day since protests began - took many people by surprise. Both sides have blamed each other, but who threw the first stone or fired the first shot is not clear.
The day before had been calm. The government and opposition had agreed a deal - an amnesty for arrested protesters, if demonstrators vacated captured government buildings.The day before had been calm. The government and opposition had agreed a deal - an amnesty for arrested protesters, if demonstrators vacated captured government buildings.
The opposition had also agreed, with negotiators for the president's ruling Party of the Regions, that parliament would discuss changing the constitution, to reduce the president's powers. But then, the speaker of parliament refused to allow that on the agenda. As news got out, angry protesters marched on parliament. Police tried to block their way. Protesters tried to force their way through, and violent clashes ensued. Later, riot police moved into Independence Square. The opposition had also agreed, with negotiators for the president's ruling Party of the Regions, that parliament would discuss changing the constitution, to reduce the president's powers. But then the speaker of parliament refused to allow that on the agenda. As news got out, angry protesters marched on parliament. Police tried to block their way. Protesters tried to force their way through, and violent clashes ensued. Later, riot police moved into Independence Square.
How did it come to this?How did it come to this?
These are some of the key events in the escalating unrest:These are some of the key events in the escalating unrest:
Ukraine crisis timelineUkraine crisis timeline
Who are the protesters?Who are the protesters?
The protests have been strongest in the Kiev area and western Ukraine, where there is a greater affinity with Europe to the west, rather than in the Russian-speaking east and south. But there have been protests in eastern Ukraine too. The protests have been strongest in the Kiev area and western Ukraine, where there is a greater affinity with Europe to the west rather than in the Russian-speaking east and south. But there have been protests in eastern Ukraine too.
The leaders of the three opposition parties in parliament have been on the Maidan, attempting to direct the protests, and trying to present a united front. The leaders of the three opposition parties in parliament - Vitali Klitschko of the pro-EU Udar movement; Arseniy Yatsenyuk of the main opposition Fatherland; and Oleh Tyahnybok of the far-right Svoboda - have been on the Maidan, attempting to direct the protests and trying to present a united front.
They are Vitali Klitschko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion and leader of the pro-EU Udar movement; Arseniy Yatsenyuk, of the country's second biggest party, Fatherland, and an ally of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko; and Oleh Tyahnybok, head of the far-right group Svoboda (Freedom). But these leaders appear not to enjoy the full trust of many protesters. The Fatherland party, in particular, is tainted by its recent years in government and seen by some as part of the political establishment.
But these leaders appear not to enjoy the full trust of many protesters. The Fatherland party, in particular, is tainted by its recent years in government, and seen by some as part of the political establishment.
Some radical right-wing groups, like Right Sector and Common Cause, have been at the forefront of clashes with police, though it is not clear how much support they have.Some radical right-wing groups, like Right Sector and Common Cause, have been at the forefront of clashes with police, though it is not clear how much support they have.
Ukraine's protest leadersUkraine's protest leaders
Radicals on the front lineRadicals on the front line
Svoboda: Rise of the ultra-nationalistsSvoboda: Rise of the ultra-nationalists
What is at stake?
Ukraine seems be caught in a modern "Great Game". Vladimir Putin wants to make Russia a global economic player, rivalling China, the US and EU. To that end he is creating a customs union with other countries and sees Ukraine as a vital and natural element in that - not least because of the countries' deep cultural and historical ties.
The EU says assimilation and eventual membership could be worth billions of euros to Ukraine, modernising its economy and giving it access to the single market. It also wants to reverse what it sees as damaging infringements on democracy and human rights in Ukraine.
Many Ukrainians in the east, working in heavy industry that supplies Russian markets, are fearful of losing their jobs if Kiev throws in its lot with Brussels. But many in the west want the prosperity and the rule of law they believe the EU would bring. They point out that while Ukraine had a bigger GDP than Poland in 1990, Poland's economy is now nearly three times larger.
Kremlin strategy on Ukraine
Ukraine's failing economy - who is to blame?
Will Ukraine split in two?
Much has been made of the cultural-linguistic divide between Ukraine's east and west - and the way this is to some extent reflected in voting patterns. Russian is widely spoken in parts of the east and south, and in some places, like the Crimean peninsula, is the main language. This is largely down to heavy immigration from Russia during the Soviet era. In westernmost regions - where Poland and Austria were dominant for hundreds of years - the population speaks Ukrainian, tends to be more nationalistic and identifies with Central Europe.
Maps show that areas where a significant proportion of people speak Russian almost exactly match those which voted for Mr Yanukovych in 2010. Some commentators suggest this shows the country is liable to split violently across the middle. But others say this is unlikely - and that many in the east still identify as Ukrainians, even if they speak Russian.
Is east deserting Yanukovych?
How has the West reacted?How has the West reacted?
The US embassy in Kiev revoked the visas of "several Ukrainians who were linked to the violence" after the deaths on 22 January. Western envoys have condemned the violence in Ukraine and called for dialogue between government and opposition.
EU leaders expressed shock at the deaths and called on all sides to halt the violence. Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the EU Commission, warned that the EU's relationship with Ukraine might have to be reviewed. The US embassy in Kiev revoked the visas of "several Ukrainians who were linked to the violence" after the deaths on 22 January. Following the violent clashes of 18 October, EU foreign ministers and US Secretary of State John Kerry said they would consider introducing sanctions.
The EU's official position on the agreement abandoned in November is that the door remains open for Ukraine to sign but it has put any new negotiations on hold until there is a clear commitment to do so. The EU's official position on the agreement abandoned in November is that the door remains open for Ukraine to sign - but it has put any new negotiations on hold until there is a clear commitment to do so.
Both the EU and US condemned the now-revoked anti-protest laws, saying they were incompatible with Ukrainians' democratic aspirations. Top US and EU diplomats have visited Independence Square and expressed support for the right to peaceful protest - drawing rebukes from Russia for stirring up the situation.
The EU and US have raised the prospect of a joint economic plan to help Ukraine bring an end to its crisis. But officials say any proposal would be linked to precise political and economic reforms and are adamant there will be no "bidding competition" with Russia. Who is pulling the strings in Kiev?
Top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton has visited Kiev and is playing a key role in negotiating with the Ukrainian government and opposition. Moscow clearly has a strong influence over Mr Yanukovych, whom it backed during the 2004 Orange Revolution when his election was ruled to have been fraudulent. To many observers, Russia is using a carrot-and-stick approach to Ukraine. It suspended its loans when the Ukrainian government resigned, and restricted trade when Ukraine looked like signing up with the EU. The EU called this "unacceptable" economic pressure.
On 6 February, a bugged phone conversation surfaced on the internet - purportedly between visiting Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and the US ambassador - revealing US thinking on key opposition figures. Ms Nuland was also apparently heard to use an expletive to describe the EU's role in Ukraine. But Russia accuses the EU of trying to doing the same, using free trade with Europe as the temptation.
Is Russia pulling the strings in Kiev? There are also very rich oligarchs in Ukraine, thought to have political influence behind the scenes. The richest, Rinat Akhmetov, has issued strong statements backing people's right to peaceful protest. But some oligarchs are thought to have been sidelined under Mr Yanukovych, in favour of a new group centred around his own family.
To many observers, the deal struck between Russia and Ukraine on 17 December points to a carrot-and-stick approach by the Kremlin. Yanukovych and the oligarchs
The 2004 Orange Revolution led to Mr Yanukovych's removal from power after his election was judged to have been fraudulent. Russia backed him then - and backs him now.
For centuries Ukraine was controlled by Moscow and many Russians see Ukraine as vital to Russian interests.
After the riots erupted on 19 January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the protests were "getting out of control", and accused European politicians of stirring up the trouble.