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| For the First Time, Ukraine Protests Lead to Deaths | |
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| KIEV, Ukraine — After two protesters were shot to death during clashes with the police on Wednesday, the first fatalities in Ukraine’s two-month civil uprising, President Viktor F. Yanukovich met with opposition leaders as efforts to defuse the crisis took on new urgency. | KIEV, Ukraine — After two protesters were shot to death during clashes with the police on Wednesday, the first fatalities in Ukraine’s two-month civil uprising, President Viktor F. Yanukovich met with opposition leaders as efforts to defuse the crisis took on new urgency. |
| Even as Mr. Yanukovich met with three Parliament leaders at the presidential headquarters, the violent standoff between demonstrators and the authorities continued, edging Kiev, the capital, toward a state of emergency. Businesses and schools near the conflict zone were told to close, and riot police brought in at least one armored personnel carrier and permitted the use of water cannons even in freezing temperatures. | Even as Mr. Yanukovich met with three Parliament leaders at the presidential headquarters, the violent standoff between demonstrators and the authorities continued, edging Kiev, the capital, toward a state of emergency. Businesses and schools near the conflict zone were told to close, and riot police brought in at least one armored personnel carrier and permitted the use of water cannons even in freezing temperatures. |
| Fires continued to burn near Dynamo Stadium, where the main clashes have occurred in recent days, and where protesters have turned the charred carcasses of police buses into barricades. In Independence Square, which demonstrators have occupied since Dec. 1, thousands of protesters reinforced barricades in anticipation of a mobilization by the authorities to clear the area. | Fires continued to burn near Dynamo Stadium, where the main clashes have occurred in recent days, and where protesters have turned the charred carcasses of police buses into barricades. In Independence Square, which demonstrators have occupied since Dec. 1, thousands of protesters reinforced barricades in anticipation of a mobilization by the authorities to clear the area. |
| The circumstances of the two shooting deaths remained murky, with protesters saying the men had been killed by the police. The authorities confirmed that two young men had died of gunshot wounds, and said the deaths were under investigation. The local news media reported that a third man died after apparently falling from an archway that protesters had climbed to hurl stones and Molotov cocktails at the police. | The circumstances of the two shooting deaths remained murky, with protesters saying the men had been killed by the police. The authorities confirmed that two young men had died of gunshot wounds, and said the deaths were under investigation. The local news media reported that a third man died after apparently falling from an archway that protesters had climbed to hurl stones and Molotov cocktails at the police. |
| The worsening violence came as Ukraine observed Unity Day, a commemoration of the unification of the eastern and western parts of the country in 1919 that is normally an occasion of national pride. | The worsening violence came as Ukraine observed Unity Day, a commemoration of the unification of the eastern and western parts of the country in 1919 that is normally an occasion of national pride. |
| Mr. Yanukovich, who has often seemed aloof and remote during the political crisis, quickly issued a statement lamenting the deaths, though he placed the blame on the opposition. | Mr. Yanukovich, who has often seemed aloof and remote during the political crisis, quickly issued a statement lamenting the deaths, though he placed the blame on the opposition. |
| “I express my deep regret over the loss of lives in the conflict triggered by political extremists,” he said in a statement released by his office. “My sincere condolences to the bereaved families.” | “I express my deep regret over the loss of lives in the conflict triggered by political extremists,” he said in a statement released by his office. “My sincere condolences to the bereaved families.” |
| Mr. Yanukovich also called for an end to the violence. “Once again, I ask people to resist the calls of political radicals,” he said. “It is still not too late to stop and resolve the conflict peacefully. I ask people to return to their homes. We must restore peace, tranquillity and stability in Ukraine.” | Mr. Yanukovich also called for an end to the violence. “Once again, I ask people to resist the calls of political radicals,” he said. “It is still not too late to stop and resolve the conflict peacefully. I ask people to return to their homes. We must restore peace, tranquillity and stability in Ukraine.” |
| Opponents of the government said three recent actions had been intended to incite the more radical protesters and sow doubt in the minds of moderates: the passing of laws last week restricting public assembly; the blocking of a protest march past Parliament on Sunday; and the sending of cellphone messages on Tuesday to people standing in the vicinity of the fighting that said, “Dear subscriber, you are registered as a participant in a mass disturbance.” | Opponents of the government said three recent actions had been intended to incite the more radical protesters and sow doubt in the minds of moderates: the passing of laws last week restricting public assembly; the blocking of a protest march past Parliament on Sunday; and the sending of cellphone messages on Tuesday to people standing in the vicinity of the fighting that said, “Dear subscriber, you are registered as a participant in a mass disturbance.” |
| With the situation increasingly ominous, it was unclear how much sway even the opposition leaders meeting with Mr. Yanukovich could exert over the demonstrators on the street. | With the situation increasingly ominous, it was unclear how much sway even the opposition leaders meeting with Mr. Yanukovich could exert over the demonstrators on the street. |
| The three opposition leaders — the former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, who leads a party called the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform; Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk of the Fatherland Party; and Oleg Tyagnybok of the nationalist Svoboda Party — represent distinct factions both in Parliament and among the protesters. | The three opposition leaders — the former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, who leads a party called the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform; Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk of the Fatherland Party; and Oleg Tyagnybok of the nationalist Svoboda Party — represent distinct factions both in Parliament and among the protesters. |
| Mr. Tyagnybok’s followers have been among the most aggressive on the streets and the most persistent in their calls for the government to be ousted. Many are from Western Ukraine, which strongly favors closer ties with Europe and where there is often deep animosity toward Russia and its influence over Ukraine, particularly Eastern Ukraine. | Mr. Tyagnybok’s followers have been among the most aggressive on the streets and the most persistent in their calls for the government to be ousted. Many are from Western Ukraine, which strongly favors closer ties with Europe and where there is often deep animosity toward Russia and its influence over Ukraine, particularly Eastern Ukraine. |
| Shortly after 5 p.m., the leaders left the presidential headquarters without speaking to reporters and television crews gathered outside. | Shortly after 5 p.m., the leaders left the presidential headquarters without speaking to reporters and television crews gathered outside. |
| Mr. Yanukovich’s office issued a statement announcing that “the first stage of negotiations” had been completed, but did not elaborate other than to note that the talks had lasted more than three hours. | Mr. Yanukovich’s office issued a statement announcing that “the first stage of negotiations” had been completed, but did not elaborate other than to note that the talks had lasted more than three hours. |
| Mr. Yanukovich had nearly neutralized the protest movement in December by securing a huge economic rescue package from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, including $15 billion in loans to help stave off an imminent fiscal crisis. That bought Mr. Yanukovich time, and the crowds on the streets dwindled, especially during the holidays and as the weather grew colder. | Mr. Yanukovich had nearly neutralized the protest movement in December by securing a huge economic rescue package from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, including $15 billion in loans to help stave off an imminent fiscal crisis. That bought Mr. Yanukovich time, and the crowds on the streets dwindled, especially during the holidays and as the weather grew colder. |
| But the aggressive move last week by Mr. Yanukovich’s Party of Regions, adopting the legislative package of restrictions by a rare show of hands rather than a regular vote, infuriated the opposition and drew more people to the street. At a rally on Sunday, many wore masks and even teakettles in defiance of a new restriction on wearing masks or helmets at public gatherings. | But the aggressive move last week by Mr. Yanukovich’s Party of Regions, adopting the legislative package of restrictions by a rare show of hands rather than a regular vote, infuriated the opposition and drew more people to the street. At a rally on Sunday, many wore masks and even teakettles in defiance of a new restriction on wearing masks or helmets at public gatherings. |
| The United States Embassy in Kiev said on Wednesday that it had revoked the visas of several people suspected of abetting violence between police and protesters last year, but it did not identify those people, citing the confidentiality of visa applications. The statement added that the State Department was considering further action against “those responsible for the current violence.” | The United States Embassy in Kiev said on Wednesday that it had revoked the visas of several people suspected of abetting violence between police and protesters last year, but it did not identify those people, citing the confidentiality of visa applications. The statement added that the State Department was considering further action against “those responsible for the current violence.” |
| The European Union called on the Ukrainian government and opposition to begin “genuine dialogue,” and the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said in a statement, “I strongly condemn the violent escalation of events in Kiev overnight leading to casualties.” | The European Union called on the Ukrainian government and opposition to begin “genuine dialogue,” and the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said in a statement, “I strongly condemn the violent escalation of events in Kiev overnight leading to casualties.” |
| Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, accused politicians from the European Union and the United States of encouraging the fighting over the past three days. The situation in Kiev, he warned, was “getting out of control.” | Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, accused politicians from the European Union and the United States of encouraging the fighting over the past three days. The situation in Kiev, he warned, was “getting out of control.” |
| “It seems someone is interested in this chaos,” Mr. Lavrov said on Tuesday at a news conference in Moscow. | “It seems someone is interested in this chaos,” Mr. Lavrov said on Tuesday at a news conference in Moscow. |