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European Union Suspends Talks With Ukraine Over Trade Deal European Union Suspends Talks With Ukraine Over Trade Deal
(about 2 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — The European Union on Sunday broke off talks with Ukraine on the far-reaching trade deal that protesters here have been demanding for weeks, and a top official issued a stinging, angry statement all but accusing Ukraine’s president of dissembling. KIEV, Ukraine — The European Union on Sunday broke off talks with Ukraine on the far-reaching trade deal that protesters here have been demanding for weeks, and a top official issued a stinging, angry statement all but accusing Ukraine’s president of dissembling during the negotiations.
The bloc’s enlargement chief, Stefan Fule, wrote on Twitter that the words and actions of the president, Viktor F. Yanukovich, were “growing further and further apart,” even as the Ukrainian crisis was showing signs of deepening. On Sunday, about a 100,000 protesters clogged a main plaza and surrounding streets, rivaling earlier weekend rallies in size. The bloc’s enlargement chief, Stefan Füle, wrote on Twitter that the words and deeds of the president, Viktor F. Yanukovich, were “growing further and further apart,” even as the Ukrainian crisis was showing signs of deepening. On Sunday, about a 100,000 protesters clogged a main plaza and surrounding streets, rivaling earlier weekend rallies in size.
The statement by Mr. Fule, coming amid this protest, sent a pointed message to the crowd that the Ukraine government might well have to change before the European Union agreement can be revived. The statement by Mr. Füle, coming amid this protest, sent a pointed message to the crowd that Ukraine’s government might well have to change before the European Union agreement can be revived.
Mr. Fule said that further discussions on the trade agreement would hinge on receiving clear signals from Ukraine’s government, but that he had received no response. “Work on hold,” he wrote in his Twitter post, saying he had told a Ukrainian deputy prime minister, Sergei Arbuzov, that the government had to show “a clear commitment to sign.” Mr. Füle said that further discussions on the trade agreement would hinge on receiving clear signals from Ukraine’s government, but that he had received no response. “Work on hold,” he wrote in his Twitter post, saying he had told a Ukrainian deputy prime minister, Sergei Arbuzov, that the government had to show “a clear commitment to sign.”
Officials in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union’s executive arm, the European Commission, confirmed the decision to suspend the talks with Ukraine.Officials in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union’s executive arm, the European Commission, confirmed the decision to suspend the talks with Ukraine.
After years of negotiations with Brussels, Mr. Yanukovich was to sign the European Union association agreement late last month, but then he announced that he would not because austerity measures demanded in a related International Monetary Fund loan were too stringent and because Russia had threatened trade sanctions.After years of negotiations with Brussels, Mr. Yanukovich was to sign the European Union association agreement late last month, but then he announced that he would not because austerity measures demanded in a related International Monetary Fund loan were too stringent and because Russia had threatened trade sanctions.
His government began talks on rival trade and economic deals with Russia, even as Mr. Yanukovich insisted he intended eventually to sign the European Union deal.His government began talks on rival trade and economic deals with Russia, even as Mr. Yanukovich insisted he intended eventually to sign the European Union deal.
Perplexed, high-level Western diplomats traveled to Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, last week. Mr. Yanukovich told the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, and an assistant secretary of state, Victoria Nuland, that he intended to sign the European trade deal, and would not join the rival Russian-backed customs union.Perplexed, high-level Western diplomats traveled to Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, last week. Mr. Yanukovich told the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, and an assistant secretary of state, Victoria Nuland, that he intended to sign the European trade deal, and would not join the rival Russian-backed customs union.
Ms. Ashton, after returning from her mission to Ukraine, said in Brussels on Thursday that she had assurances from the president of his intention to sign.Ms. Ashton, after returning from her mission to Ukraine, said in Brussels on Thursday that she had assurances from the president of his intention to sign.
“Yanukovich made it clear to me that he intends to sign the association agreement,” she said.“Yanukovich made it clear to me that he intends to sign the association agreement,” she said.
By Friday, though, the Ukrainian government had again issued orders to ministers to plan to reconcile Ukrainian customs and trade legislation with the Russian-led customs union, not the European Union, the newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda reported, adding to a sense of drift in the government all the more ominous for the large, sustained protests in the capital.By Friday, though, the Ukrainian government had again issued orders to ministers to plan to reconcile Ukrainian customs and trade legislation with the Russian-led customs union, not the European Union, the newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda reported, adding to a sense of drift in the government all the more ominous for the large, sustained protests in the capital.
A sprawling crowd packed Independence Square in Kiev on Sunday to hear several speeches, including one by Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican, who was in the Ukrainian capital for meetings with opposition leaders and Ukraine’s foreign minister. Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, both members of the Foreign Relations Committee, appeared onstage at Independence Square and expressed American solidarity with the protesters’ goals.
“Ukraine will make Europe better, and Europe will make Ukraine better,” Mr. McCain told the crowd. “We are here to support your just cause, the sovereign right of Ukraine to determine its own destiny freely and independently. And the destiny you seek lies in Europe.” “We are here to support your just cause: the sovereign right of Ukrainians to determine your own destiny,” said Mr. McCain, a former Republican presidential nominee, to much applause. He added: “The destiny you seek lies in Europe. Ukraine will make Europe better, and Europe will make Ukraine better.”
At a news conference later, Mr. McCain and Mr. Murphy said the Senate would consider imposing sanctions against the Ukrainian government should there be any further violence against protesters. Mr. Murphy said he had accompanied Mr. McCain here to show that there was bipartisan support for the Ukrainian demonstrators, and he said he was impressed by the peaceful nature of the rally.
While Mr. McCain chastised Russia for its role in derailing Ukraine’s plans to sign the trade and political accords with Europe, describing it as interference in Ukraine’s sovereign affairs, he said he saw no contradiction in standing onstage before a crowd that had called for the ouster of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his government. He called it “my duty to speak out” on behalf of the Ukrainian people and human rights.
Mr. Murphy also said it was clear that the protest movement had staying power. “We understand protesters on the square won’t go away until there are real reforms proposed by this government, or another government,” he said.
Supporters of the political party of Vitali Klitschko, a champion boxer, marched to the headquarters of the Ukrainian national police, the S.B.U., where they pooled in front of the building and chanted, “Shame! Shame!” Others went to the Interior Ministry and central election office.Supporters of the political party of Vitali Klitschko, a champion boxer, marched to the headquarters of the Ukrainian national police, the S.B.U., where they pooled in front of the building and chanted, “Shame! Shame!” Others went to the Interior Ministry and central election office.
Adding to tension in the capital on Sunday, Mr. Yanukovich’s political party, the Party of Regions, bused in thousands of supporters from provincial towns to gather in a park about a mile from Independence Square, placing the two large crowds in proximity and raising the prospect that groups from each camp would be in the streets overnight.Adding to tension in the capital on Sunday, Mr. Yanukovich’s political party, the Party of Regions, bused in thousands of supporters from provincial towns to gather in a park about a mile from Independence Square, placing the two large crowds in proximity and raising the prospect that groups from each camp would be in the streets overnight.
Organizers of the pro-government rally said buses and trains chartered by the Party of Regions brought in thousands of people, mostly young men, on Sunday morning. They included coal miners and laborers from the eastern Ukrainian industrial heartlands.Organizers of the pro-government rally said buses and trains chartered by the Party of Regions brought in thousands of people, mostly young men, on Sunday morning. They included coal miners and laborers from the eastern Ukrainian industrial heartlands.
The pro-European Union protest leaders asked supporters to turn out on Tuesday, when Mr. Yanukovich has scheduled a visit to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin. The two leaders have been negotiating over a desperately needed financial aid package that could include discounts on natural gas and, perhaps, a bridge loan for Ukraine. Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, the leader in Parliament of the opposition Fatherland party and one of the main protest organizers, told members of the huge crowd that they would need to be especially vigilant on Tuesday, when Mr. Yanukovich planned to meet President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Opposition leaders say they fear that Mr. Yanukovich is secretly preparing to sign the customs union pact. If the government chooses the Russian deal, it would further inflame the protest movement in Kiev. The two leaders have been in talks regarding economic aid, but many in the opposition are deeply fearful that Mr. Yanukovich is prepared to make a deal that would commit Ukraine to joining the customs union that Russia has created with Kazakhstan and Belarus. Such a step, they fear, would close the door to a trade agreement with Europe — at least for the near future.

Andrew Higgins contributed reporting from Brussels.

David M. Herszenhorn contributed reporting from Kiev, and Andrew Higgins from Brussels.