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| Ukraine crisis: EU ministers to hold crisis talks in Kiev | Ukraine crisis: EU ministers to hold crisis talks in Kiev |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Foreign ministers from France, Germany and Poland are to hold crisis talks in Ukraine after deadly clashes this week. | Foreign ministers from France, Germany and Poland are to hold crisis talks in Ukraine after deadly clashes this week. |
| The talks with top government officials and the opposition come before an EU meeting in Brussels to decide whether to impose sanctions against Ukraine. | The talks with top government officials and the opposition come before an EU meeting in Brussels to decide whether to impose sanctions against Ukraine. |
| At least 26 people died in the clashes between protesters and police in the capital Kiev on Tuesday and Wednesday. | At least 26 people died in the clashes between protesters and police in the capital Kiev on Tuesday and Wednesday. |
| On Wednesday evening, President Viktor Yanukovych and the main opposition leaders agreed a truce. | On Wednesday evening, President Viktor Yanukovych and the main opposition leaders agreed a truce. |
| In a statement, the president said "negotiations" would now start to end the bloodshed and stabilise the situation. | In a statement, the president said "negotiations" would now start to end the bloodshed and stabilise the situation. |
| Fires have continued burning around the main protest camp, the Maidan, overnight, but no violence is reported. | Fires have continued burning around the main protest camp, the Maidan, overnight, but no violence is reported. |
| Most of the victims died during the clashes near the parliament building in the capital and later police attempts to clear the Maidan on Tuesday - making it the bloodiest day since the unrest erupted in late November. | Most of the victims died during the clashes near the parliament building in the capital and later police attempts to clear the Maidan on Tuesday - making it the bloodiest day since the unrest erupted in late November. |
| Thursday has been declared a day of mourning for the dead. | Thursday has been declared a day of mourning for the dead. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Visa bans | Visa bans |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his counterparts from France and Poland, Laurent Fabius and Radoslaw Sikorski, are expected to meet President Yanukovych and other government officials on Thursday morning. | German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his counterparts from France and Poland, Laurent Fabius and Radoslaw Sikorski, are expected to meet President Yanukovych and other government officials on Thursday morning. |
| The EU ministers will also hold separate talks with the opposition. | The EU ministers will also hold separate talks with the opposition. |
| Ahead of the Kiev visit, Mr Fabius called the warring sides to "return to dialogue", condemning the violence as "unacceptable". | Ahead of the Kiev visit, Mr Fabius called the warring sides to "return to dialogue", condemning the violence as "unacceptable". |
| "Perpetrators of these acts cannot go without sanctions." | "Perpetrators of these acts cannot go without sanctions." |
| The three EU ministers will then fly to Brussels for a crisis meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and other EU foreign ministers, where the issue of sanctions may be discussed. | |
| The Ukrainian opposition has been long pressing the EU and US to impose sanctions against senior government officials believed to be responsible for the violence against protesters. | The Ukrainian opposition has been long pressing the EU and US to impose sanctions against senior government officials believed to be responsible for the violence against protesters. |
| The EU has so far refrained from such a move, instead stressing that dialogue and compromise was the best way out of Ukraine's crisis. | The EU has so far refrained from such a move, instead stressing that dialogue and compromise was the best way out of Ukraine's crisis. |
| Meanwhile, the US state department announced on Wednesday it had imposed visa bans on 20 members of Ukraine's government. | Meanwhile, the US state department announced on Wednesday it had imposed visa bans on 20 members of Ukraine's government. |
| A senior state department said all those were civilians whom Washington held responsible for the violence. The official declined to provide any names. | A senior state department said all those were civilians whom Washington held responsible for the violence. The official declined to provide any names. |
| 'Protect human life' | 'Protect human life' |
| Announcing the truce on late on Wednesday, the presidential statement said it was agreed to "start negotiations aimed at stopping the bloodshed, stabilising the situation in the country and achieving social peace". | Announcing the truce on late on Wednesday, the presidential statement said it was agreed to "start negotiations aimed at stopping the bloodshed, stabilising the situation in the country and achieving social peace". |
| It did not give details of what the truce would entail or how it would be implemented. | It did not give details of what the truce would entail or how it would be implemented. |
| The opposition leaders present at the talks were Arseniy Yatsenyuk and also boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko and far-right party leader Oleh Tyahnybok. | The opposition leaders present at the talks were Arseniy Yatsenyuk and also boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko and far-right party leader Oleh Tyahnybok. |
| Mr Yatsenyuk confirmed the deal had been reached, saying in a statement on his Fatherland party website that "the main thing is to protect human life". | Mr Yatsenyuk confirmed the deal had been reached, saying in a statement on his Fatherland party website that "the main thing is to protect human life". |
| The media wing of Vitali Klitschko's Udar party said the next round of negotiations with President Yanukovych would resume later on Thursday. | The media wing of Vitali Klitschko's Udar party said the next round of negotiations with President Yanukovych would resume later on Thursday. |
| But a BBC correspondent in Kiev, Daniel Sandford, has urged caution, pointing out that none of the hardcore protesters have so far attended talks with the president. | But a BBC correspondent in Kiev, Daniel Sandford, has urged caution, pointing out that none of the hardcore protesters have so far attended talks with the president. |
| The news came after the most intense violence in Ukraine's three-month crisis turned Kiev into a battle zone between anti-government protesters and riot police. | The news came after the most intense violence in Ukraine's three-month crisis turned Kiev into a battle zone between anti-government protesters and riot police. |
| The protests first erupted when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. | The protests first erupted when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
| Since then, the protests spread across Ukraine, with the main demand of snap presidential and parliamentary elections. | Since then, the protests spread across Ukraine, with the main demand of snap presidential and parliamentary elections. |
| Are you in Ukraine? Have you seen or taken part in any of the protests? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Ukraine? Have you seen or taken part in any of the protests? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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