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German Leaders Meet With Ukrainian Opposition Leaders German Leaders Meet With Ukrainian Opposition Leaders
(about 2 hours later)
BERLIN — Germany rolled out an unusually high-level reception for Ukraine’s two main opposition leaders on Monday as European negotiators pursued a compromise to end a crisis that has brought central Kiev, in the capital of the Eastern European country of 45 million, to a standstill for more than two months. BERLIN — Russia said Monday that it would release the second payment of a promised $15 billion loan to Ukraine that had been frozen because of the political disarray there.
Chancellor Angela Merkel held her first known talks with the Ukrainian politicians Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk and Vitali Klitschko, here at the Chancellery, and Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was meeting with them on Monday evening. Russia’s announcement that it would buy $2 billion in Ukrainian bonds came as Chancellor Angela Merkel held discussions with two Ukrainian opposition leaders, continuing a tug of war that the Kremlin and Brussels began in November after President Viktor F. Yanukovych spurned a trade deal with the European Union and accepted the loan from Russia.
At the same time, President Joachim Gauck of Germany met with Alexander Kwasniewski, the former president of Poland, who has visited Ukraine dozens of times in recent months in an effort to broker an end to the political crisis. That decision ignited pro-Western protests that have destabilized the country, and neither the government nor the opposition has any clear remedy for the growing economic crisis. Shut out of global financial markets, Kiev needs to find billions of dollars to pay off foreign loans falling due in coming months or face default.
Officials in Berlin cast the talks as part of a carefully choreographed series of moves designed to end the standoff between Ukraine’s president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, and the opposition leaders and protesters who have stood their ground in central Kiev since Mr. Yanukovych rejected a deal with the European Union in November and turned instead to Russia for support and financial assistance. The United States and European Union have repeatedly said that they are "working on" an aid package with the International Monetary Fund, but so far no concrete offers have been forthcoming.
Ms. Merkel met for more than an hour with the Ukrainian opposition leaders, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk and Vitali Klitschko, who both expressed gratitude for the attention of Europe’s most important national leader. But there was no indication they were flying back to Kiev with promises of money or support.
Officials in Berlin cast the talks as part of a carefully choreographed series of moves designed to end the standoff between Mr. Yanukovych, and the opposition leaders and protesters who have occupied central Kiev and taken over many cities in the pro-European western half of Ukraine.
On Sunday, protesters left Kiev’s City Hall, which they had occupied for more than two months, cementing an amnesty deal with the authorities that indicated that both sides were seeking to reduce tensions in the volatile crisis.On Sunday, protesters left Kiev’s City Hall, which they had occupied for more than two months, cementing an amnesty deal with the authorities that indicated that both sides were seeking to reduce tensions in the volatile crisis.
Still, the opposition leaders invited to Berlin do not necessarily control the so-called “people’s self-defense” units and freelance groups of young men armed with clubs and iron rods on the streets of central Kiev. On Monday, all was quiet in the Ukrainian capital, but members of the militant wing started reinforcing some of the barricades that were supposed to be removed after amnesty was granted for detained protesters.Still, the opposition leaders invited to Berlin do not necessarily control the so-called “people’s self-defense” units and freelance groups of young men armed with clubs and iron rods on the streets of central Kiev. On Monday, all was quiet in the Ukrainian capital, but members of the militant wing started reinforcing some of the barricades that were supposed to be removed after amnesty was granted for detained protesters.
On Hrushevsky Street, a cobblestone road smeared with soot after fierce battles last month between protesters and riot police officers that involved Molotov cocktails and burning tires, the narrow passageway through high barricades that had opened up on Sunday was sealed off again Monday by protesters. Masked men who identified themselves as members of the “31st self-defense unit” guarded the area, blocking pedestrians and vehicles.On Hrushevsky Street, a cobblestone road smeared with soot after fierce battles last month between protesters and riot police officers that involved Molotov cocktails and burning tires, the narrow passageway through high barricades that had opened up on Sunday was sealed off again Monday by protesters. Masked men who identified themselves as members of the “31st self-defense unit” guarded the area, blocking pedestrians and vehicles.
Germany has played an active role in Ukraine, with Mrs. Merkel first insisting in Parliament on Nov. 18 that the Cold War must be over for all former Soviet lands, and that there was no clear yes or no choice for Ukraine between Europe and Russia. She later berated Mr. Yanukovych for spurning the proffered association agreement with the European Union.Germany has played an active role in Ukraine, with Mrs. Merkel first insisting in Parliament on Nov. 18 that the Cold War must be over for all former Soviet lands, and that there was no clear yes or no choice for Ukraine between Europe and Russia. She later berated Mr. Yanukovych for spurning the proffered association agreement with the European Union.
Mr. Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, met with the two opposition leaders just over two weeks ago when they attended a security conference in Munich.Mr. Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, met with the two opposition leaders just over two weeks ago when they attended a security conference in Munich.
Since then, leaked recordings of two telephone calls – one between the United States assistant secretary of state for European affairs, Victoria J. Nuland, and the American ambassador in Kiev, and the other between two top European diplomats – exposed differences between the American and European approaches to the crisis in Ukraine. They also suggested that Mr. Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister and central bank governor in Ukraine, and Mr. Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion, were seen by Western governments as the most likely to head some kind of transition arrangement before elections could be held in Ukraine.Since then, leaked recordings of two telephone calls – one between the United States assistant secretary of state for European affairs, Victoria J. Nuland, and the American ambassador in Kiev, and the other between two top European diplomats – exposed differences between the American and European approaches to the crisis in Ukraine. They also suggested that Mr. Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister and central bank governor in Ukraine, and Mr. Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion, were seen by Western governments as the most likely to head some kind of transition arrangement before elections could be held in Ukraine.
German news media have closely followed the crisis and made something of a hero of Mr. Klitschko, whose name has frequently appeared above a column in Bild, the best-selling newspaper in the country. In his latest contribution, published on Monday, Mr. Klitschko wrote: “I wish Germany would take over the leading role in negotiations, we urgently need more independent observers in the country! During my visit I will again make clear that we want sanctions. We have been demanding for months accounts closed and an E.U. ban on travel for government members — now we want a clear signal!”German news media have closely followed the crisis and made something of a hero of Mr. Klitschko, whose name has frequently appeared above a column in Bild, the best-selling newspaper in the country. In his latest contribution, published on Monday, Mr. Klitschko wrote: “I wish Germany would take over the leading role in negotiations, we urgently need more independent observers in the country! During my visit I will again make clear that we want sanctions. We have been demanding for months accounts closed and an E.U. ban on travel for government members — now we want a clear signal!”
Looming over Ukraine’s political tug of war is a grave economic crisis for which neither the government nor the opposition has any clear remedy. Ukraine needs to find billions of dollars to pay off foreign loans that are due in coming months to stave off default.
President Yanukovych had hoped to fill the financial hole with a $15 billion loan from Russia, which he negotiated in December, but the Kremlin, alarmed by the continuing disarray in Kiev, has since suspended it.
The United States and the European Union have repeatedly said that they were working on an aid package, in particular with the I.M.F., but so far no concrete offers have been made public.