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Riot Police Push Into Kiev Square as Crisis Grows Police Push Into Kiev Square as Crisis Grows
(about 1 hour later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Battalions of Ukrainian security forces early Wednesday stormed Independence Square, the central plaza in Kiev where protesters had been rallying against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovich for more than two weeks.  KIEV, Ukraine — Battalions of Ukrainian security forces early Wednesday stormed Independence Square, the central plaza in Kiev where protesters had been rallying against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovich for more than two weeks.
Hours after senior Western diplomats arrived here for meetings with Mr. Yanukovich in an effort to defuse both the country’s slide into a political chaos as well as a deepening financial crisis, thousands of riot police officers and internal ministry troops fanned across Kiev, putting the Ukrainian capital in a virtual lockdown in the cold predawn darkness.  Hours after senior Western diplomats arrived here for meetings with Mr. Yanukovich in an effort to defuse both the country’s slide into political chaos as well as a deepening financial crisis, thousands of riot police officers and internal ministry troops fanned across Kiev, putting the Ukrainian capital in a virtual lockdown in the cold predawn darkness.
Officers descending on a slope past the Hotel Ukraina smashed through a barricade that protesters had heavily reinforced.  Officers descending a slope past the Hotel Ukraina punched an opening through a barricade that protesters had heavily reinforced. Officers later winched a rope to the barrier and ripped it down entirely. Ice and slush on the streets added to the unfolding confusion as some officers slid into a confrontation with demonstrators, who chanted “Peaceful Protest! Peaceful Protest!”
There was fighting and shoving matches as officers pushed into the plaza from virtually all sides, taking up positions and blocking the crowd’s movements with interlocking shields. At least one of the tents erected by demonstrators caught fire.   There was fighting and shoving matches as officers pushed into the plaza from virtually all sides, taking up positions and blocking the crowd’s movements with interlocking shields. At least one of the tents erected by demonstrators caught fire. Officers in helmets pushed through the crowds with shields but did not use the truncheons hanging at their sides.
As the security forces spread throughout the square, a large crowd of protesters brandishing sticks, clubs, metal rods and anything else they could find massed in front of the Trade Unions Building, which leaders of the demonstration had turned into the headquarters of what they call the National Resistance. Fistfights and shoving matches broke out on streets that the demonstrators had slicked with water that swiftly turned to ice. As the security forces spread throughout the square, a large crowd of protesters brandishing sticks, clubs, metal rods and anything else they could find massed in front of the Trade Unions Building, which leaders of the demonstration had turned into the headquarters of what they call the National Resistance.
The crackdown by the authorities came hours after a meeting between Mr. Yanukovich and Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. The crackdown by the authorities came hours after a three and a half-hour meeting between Mr. Yanukovich and Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
Western leaders, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who spoke by telephone with Mr. Yanukovich on Monday, have sternly warned the government against the use of force on peaceful protests. Secretary of State John Kerry, in an unusually strong statement late Tuesday, expressed the United States’ “disgust” with the authorities’ decision to use force. “This response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy,” he said. “As church bells ring tonight amidst the smoke in the streets of Kiev, the United States stands with the people of Ukraine. They deserve better.” 
It seemed likely that the enforcement effort would have serious diplomatic consequences, especially because Tuesday had largely been a day of consultations and discussions among senior officials. The talks with Western officials had largely focused on Ukraine’s acute financial troubles; a deepening cash crunch could leave the country broke within months. Western leaders, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who spoke by telephone with Mr. Yanukovich on Monday, had sternly warned the government against the use of force on peaceful protests.
Along with Ms. Ashton, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland returned to Kiev after making a brief visit here last week. Mr. Yanukovich also met with the three former presidents of Ukraine, to begin what the government described as a process of “round-table” discussions to resolve the crisis. The enforcement effort was likely to have serious diplomatic consequences, especially because there was no apparent provocation for the sudden and aggressive police advance.
Amid the deepening financial crisis, the streets of Kiev erupted in violence early Wednesday. After initially punching through the barricades that protesters had established around the perimeter of the square, security forces began more aggressive efforts to take them down. At one point, they attached a rope and pulled one of the main barricades down with a winch. Earlier, on Tuesday, demonstrators had milled about on Independence Square as they have every day since Dec. 1, when it was occupied and barricaded after a huge demonstration that drew hundreds of thousands. That rally was animated by public anger over a brief but bloody crackdown by the police against demonstrators the day before.
Protesters in construction hats, bicycle helmets and other protective gear then rushed toward the police, with blows being landed by both sides. The police also began deploying canisters of tear gas, creating plumes of smoke around the swirling crowds. People first took to the streets nearly three weeks ago, in anger over Mr. Yanukovich’s sudden decision to scuttle far-reaching political and free-trade agreements with the European Union that had been in the works for more than a year and he had promised to sign.
By 3 a.m., witnesses said, the police had largely divided the crowd into sectors and had cleared a substantial portion of the plaza. The security forces were standing in formation but did not appear to be making any arrests. The storming of the plaza was especially surprising because Tuesday had largely been a day of consultations and discussions among senior officials. The talks with Western diplomats had focused heavily on Ukraine’s acute financial troubles; a deepening cash crunch could leave the country broke within months.
There was no apparent provocation for the aggressive police advance. Early on Tuesday, demonstrators had milled about on Independence Square as they have since Dec. 1 — when it was first occupied after a huge demonstration that drew hundreds of thousands. That rally was animated by public anger against a brief but bloody crackdown by the police against demonstrators the day before. Along with Ms. Ashton, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland returned to Kiev after making a brief visit here last week and then traveling elsewhere in the region, including to Russia where she urged senior officials to help resolve the crisis in Ukraine.
Late on Tuesday night there were a series of intermittent blackouts — unusual for Kiev — that apparently foreshadowed the impending police action. Mr. Yanukovich also met with the three former presidents of Ukraine, to begin what the government described as a process of “round-table” discussions to resolve the crisis.
As the violence unfolded, borrowing costs for Ukraine rose to their highest level in years and the central bank was forced to intervene to support the currency as investors fled from a country with its government under siege, no budget in place for next year and an increasingly acute need for a rescue package of as much as $18 billion. By 3 a.m. Wednesday, witnesses said that the police had largely divided the crowd into sectors and had cleared a substantial portion of the plaza. They then stood in formation but did not appear to be making arrests.
Ukraine also remains caught in a tug of war between Europe and Russia, which are vying for political sway over the country’s future. They are both deeply wary of putting up cash, however, given the uncertain political situation and Mr. Yanukovich’s long track record of playing East against West, most recently At one point, protesters in construction hats, bicycle helmets and other protective gear rushed toward the officers, with blows being landed by both sides. Burning barrels tipped over, sending up plumes of smoke.
backing away from sweeping political and free trade agreements with Europe that had been years in the making. Roman Bakus, 30, had been standing in front of a long line of police officers in the embattled plaza, and was knocked down by their advance.
In rejecting the accords, Mr. Yanukovich said he could not accept conditions of an accompanying rescue package from the International Monetary Fund. He was also under heavy pressure from the Kremlin, which threatened draconian trade sanctions if Ukraine signed the trade pact with Europe. If Mr. Yanukovich thought he was making a clever maneuver, stringing along the European Union while he extracted a better deal from Russia, the plan exploded when protesters headed into the streets. “Of course we are afraid but we are all together,” said Mr. Bakus, who was wearing a bicycle helmet. “Of course we could lose, but we will achieve something anyway. We’ll stay here until the end. If we lose today, three times as many people will come out tomorrow, and they won’t policemen willing to do this again.”
At that, the crowd began singing the Ukrainian national anthem and Mr. Bakus and others took off their helmets in salute.
At least one man was on the ground, apparently unconscious. He was carried off by volunteer medics who came running with a stretcher. Throughout the eight days of occupation, protesters had established first aid stations, and canteens, volunteer security forces and cleaning crews.
They listened to speeches, danced to musical performances, and gathered around fires to keep warm.
Late on Tuesday night there were a series of intermittent blackouts — unusual for Kiev — that apparently foreshadowed the arrival of the riot police.
Even before that, the ongoing civic uprising had begun to take a toll on Ukraine’s already imperiled economy. Borrowing costs for Ukraine rose to their highest level in years on Tuesday and the central bank was forced to intervene to support the currency as investors fled from a country with its government under siege, no budget in place for next year and an increasingly acute need for a rescue package of as much as $18 billion.
Ukraine remains caught in a tug of war between Europe and Russia, which are vying for political sway over the country’s future. Both are both deeply wary of putting up cash, however, given the uncertain political situation and Mr. Yanukovich’s long track record of playing East against West, most recently with his gambit on the accords.
In rejecting the accords, Mr. Yanukovich said he could not accept conditions of an accompanying rescue package from the International Monetary Fund. He was also under heavy pressure from the Kremlin, which threatened draconian trade sanctions if Ukraine signed the trade pact with Europe. If Mr. Yanukovich thought he was making a clever maneuver, stringing along the European Union while he extracted a better deal from Russia, the plan exploded when protesters rushed into the streets.
“Yanukovich was playing a game where he thought he could maneuver the E.U. and Russia to his benefit,” said Stephen Sestanovich, a Russia expert and a senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. “The whole idea was to get both sides to pay.”“Yanukovich was playing a game where he thought he could maneuver the E.U. and Russia to his benefit,” said Stephen Sestanovich, a Russia expert and a senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. “The whole idea was to get both sides to pay.”
Instead, he now has no deal with anyone. Russia has indicated some willingness to help, potentially with a combination of lower gas prices, the refinancing of existing debt and, perhaps, a small bridge loan, but not until the political turmoil has been resolved. A Russian deputy prime minister, Igor Shuvalov, said in New York on Tuesday that Mr. Yanukovich and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia would meet again in a week. Instead, he now has no deal with anyone. Russia has indicated some willingness to help, potentially with a combination of lower gas prices, the refinancing of existing debt and, perhaps, a small bridge loan, but not until the political turmoil has been resolved.
The possibility that Ukraine would be tipped back into Russia’s orbit has set Western officials scrambling, in part to put together a somewhat more palatable aid package that perhaps would persuade Mr. Yanukovich to reconsider signing the accords. A Russian deputy prime minister, Igor Shuvalov, said in New York on Tuesday that Mr. Yanukovich and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia would meet again in a week.
Opposition leaders here said that they had received assurances in a meeting with European ambassadors that Western financial assistance was still available for Ukraine, and could serve as an alternative to a Russian bailout, though the discussions remain preliminary. The possibility that Ukraine could be tipped back into Russia’s orbit has set Western officials scrambling, in part to put together a somewhat more palatable aid package that perhaps would persuade Mr. Yanukovich to reconsider signing the accords.
But there was no indication that the I.M.F. was softening its loan terms. The fund has maintained that to qualify for aid, Ukraine must take some tough steps, including judicial reforms and a cut in energy subsidies for residential consumers. There have been no new discussions between Ukrainian leaders and the fund since the collapse of the accords two weeks ago, and the conditions for assistance remain the same, said Olga I. Stankova, a fund spokeswoman in Washington. Opposition leaders here said that they had received assurances in a meeting with European ambassadors that Western financial assistance was still available, and could serve as an alternative to a Russian bailout, though the discussions remain preliminary.
Mr. Yanukovich, in comments posted on the presidential website, said that Ukraine would resume negotiations with the I.M.F. and that he had received assurances from Mr. Biden this week “that the issues with the International Monetary Fund are almost resolved.” . But there was no indication that the I.M.F. was softening its loan terms.
“If there are conditions that suit us, we’ll go that way,” Mr. Yanukovich said, according to his office.
Mr. Yanukovich said he told Mr. Biden that Ukraine would not accept stiff conditions. “I said that if there are conditions that are offered to us, freeze wages, pensions, raise gas prices — we do not need such loans.”
Many financial analysts say that without such austerity measures, Ukraine’s economy will remain in a slow death-spiral and that any rescue effort will fail.

Oksana Lyachynska contributed reporting.

Oksana Lyachynska contributed reporting.