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Ukraine crisis: Western diplomats bid to end stand-off Ukraine crisis: Western diplomats bid to end stand-off
(about 1 hour later)
Top Western diplomats are visiting Kiev as police move to break the blockade of Ukrainian government buildings by pro-EU protesters.Top Western diplomats are visiting Kiev as police move to break the blockade of Ukrainian government buildings by pro-EU protesters.
US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met leading opposition politicians and was due to have talks with President Viktor Yanukovych.US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met leading opposition politicians and was due to have talks with President Viktor Yanukovych.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton met the Ukrainian leader. The Ukrainian leader met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Mr Yanukovych has reportedly indicated he may be willing to help free people arrested during the protests. He has announced the government is resuming talks on the EU association agreement at the heart of the unrest.
One of his predecessors as president of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, made the remark after talks with Mr Yanukovych and two other former presidents, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko. By suspending negotiations just before the deal was due to be signed at an EU summit last month, Mr Yanukovych plunged Ukraine into uncertainty.
Scores of people were injured and at least 31 arrests were made in clashes between police and protesters at the end of last month.. The European Commission has said its offer of the association agreement remains on the table, provided Ukraine meets the conditions, which cannot be renegotiated.
Several people were also hurt overnight as riot police advanced, before a deadline for protesters to lift their blockade. However, Mr Yanukovych appears to have again stressed the need to strengthen economic ties with Russia, which strongly opposes the EU agreement.
Several people were hurt overnight as riot police advanced on protesters.
But no action was taken against the main opposition camp on Independence Square, where about 2,000 protesters remained on Tuesday morning, huddling around braziers to keep warm, Reuters news agency reports.But no action was taken against the main opposition camp on Independence Square, where about 2,000 protesters remained on Tuesday morning, huddling around braziers to keep warm, Reuters news agency reports.
On Sunday, at least 100,000 protesters turned out, demanding the resignation of the government within 48 hours.On Sunday, at least 100,000 protesters turned out, demanding the resignation of the government within 48 hours.
The political crisis began when Ukraine decided not to sign a landmark EU free-trade deal last month, while under pressure to strengthen economic ties with Russia.
The European Commission says the EU's offer of an association agreement with Ukraine remains on the table, provided Ukraine meets the conditions, which cannot be renegotiated.
'Serious risk''Serious risk'
A police raid on Monday on the headquarters of Ukraine's biggest opposition party, Fatherland, led Baroness Ashton to express concern and urge restraint on the eve of her visit. There were no immediate details of Baroness Ashton's talks with Mr Yanukovych but, speaking before the visit, she voiced concern about a police raid on the headquarters of Ukraine's biggest opposition party, Fatherland.
Computer servers were removed during the raid on the party led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in prison since 2011 over a controversial gas contract with Russia.Computer servers were removed during the raid on the party led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in prison since 2011 over a controversial gas contract with Russia.
"I follow with concern the reports that police forces forcibly entered the office of the biggest opposition party," Baroness Ashton said in a statement."I follow with concern the reports that police forces forcibly entered the office of the biggest opposition party," Baroness Ashton said in a statement.
She said the timing, just ahead of the talks proposed by Mr Yanukovych, "seriously risk to derail the process". Ms Nuland met Vitaly Klitschko, the heavyweight boxing champion who leads the Udar (Punch) party, as well as Arseniy Yatsenyuk, of Tymoshenko's Fatherland party, and Oleh Tyahnybok, of the far-right Svoboda party.
Photos were released on Tuesday of Ms Nuland meeting Vitaly Klitschko, the heavyweight boxing champion who leads the Udar (Punch) party, as well as Arseniy Yatsenyuk, of Tymoshenko's Fatherland party, and Oleh Tyahnybok, of the far-right Svoboda party.
In Moscow earlier, the US diplomat expressed "deep concern" about events in Ukraine, stressing Washington's support for Ukrainians' "European choice".In Moscow earlier, the US diplomat expressed "deep concern" about events in Ukraine, stressing Washington's support for Ukrainians' "European choice".
She "urged Russia to use its influence to press for peace, human dignity and a political solution", the US embassy in Moscow said in a statement.She "urged Russia to use its influence to press for peace, human dignity and a political solution", the US embassy in Moscow said in a statement.
ScufflesScuffles
After talks with Mr Yanukovych, Mr Kravchuk said the current president would decide whether arrested demonstrators should be freed "while not intervening in the work of the courts". Mr Yanukovych discussed the crisis at a televised round table on Tuesday with his three predecessors as president of Ukraine - Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko. No representatives of the street demonstrators were present.
President Yanukovych said a working group led by a deputy prime minister would "probably" go to Brussels on Wednesday to resume work with the European Commission on the association agreement.
"We cannot talk about the future without talking about restoring trade relations with Russia," he added, quoted by Reuters news agency.
He said he had asked the prosecutor general to ensure the release of some protesters detained last month - those who had not committed grave crimes and who had children or families.
"Certainly, such people will be released," he said.
The street protests, the biggest since 2004, have invited parallels with that time. On each of the last three Sundays, crowds estimated at 100,000 or more have flooded central Kiev.The street protests, the biggest since 2004, have invited parallels with that time. On each of the last three Sundays, crowds estimated at 100,000 or more have flooded central Kiev.
On Monday, phalanxes of riot police, their helmets caked in snow, moved to clear Kiev's government district of protesters, tearing down barricades leading to the presidency, cabinet offices and parliament.On Monday, phalanxes of riot police, their helmets caked in snow, moved to clear Kiev's government district of protesters, tearing down barricades leading to the presidency, cabinet offices and parliament.
Scuffles broke out and, while there were no immediate official reports of injuries, members of Svoboda said several people had been hurt. Two police officers were also reportedly injured.Scuffles broke out and, while there were no immediate official reports of injuries, members of Svoboda said several people had been hurt. Two police officers were also reportedly injured.
The unrest in Kiev and other parts of Ukraine escalated after police used violence against protesters on 30 November.The unrest in Kiev and other parts of Ukraine escalated after police used violence against protesters on 30 November.
The crisis has highlighted divisions in Ukraine, with many in the east of the country more sympathetic to Russia, and opposing both closer links with the EU and the anti-government protests.The crisis has highlighted divisions in Ukraine, with many in the east of the country more sympathetic to Russia, and opposing both closer links with the EU and the anti-government protests.