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Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych announces 'peace deal' | Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych announces 'peace deal' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukraine's president says he has reached a deal with the opposition to end the crisis, after all-night talks mediated by three EU foreign ministers. | |
Viktor Yanukovych's statement said the agreement would be signed later. | |
However, the French foreign minister voiced caution, saying the deal was not definitive, and the opposition has not confirmed Mr Yanukovych's claim. | |
Protesters and police are still locked in a stand-off in Kiev, a day after dozens were killed in violent clashes. | Protesters and police are still locked in a stand-off in Kiev, a day after dozens were killed in violent clashes. |
On Thursday, EU foreign ministers said sanctions would be imposed on some Ukrainian officials over the violence. | On Thursday, EU foreign ministers said sanctions would be imposed on some Ukrainian officials over the violence. |
The US has warned Kiev that it would follow suit. | The US has warned Kiev that it would follow suit. |
The protests first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. | The protests first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
Thursday was the bloodiest day since the unrest began. | Thursday was the bloodiest day since the unrest began. |
Police opened fire after protesters tried to push them away from the makeshift camps they have been occupying in central Kiev. | Police opened fire after protesters tried to push them away from the makeshift camps they have been occupying in central Kiev. |
The health ministry said 77 people had been killed since Tuesday, and another 577 were injured. | The health ministry said 77 people had been killed since Tuesday, and another 577 were injured. |
But activists suggested the death toll was likely to be much higher. | But activists suggested the death toll was likely to be much higher. |
Early election mooted | Early election mooted |
On Thursday, the foreign ministers of France, Poland and Germany conducted several hours of discussions with Mr Yanukovych on a "road-map towards a political solution" before going on to talks with opposition leaders. | On Thursday, the foreign ministers of France, Poland and Germany conducted several hours of discussions with Mr Yanukovych on a "road-map towards a political solution" before going on to talks with opposition leaders. |
They returned for another meeting with Mr Yanukovych in the evening and the talks continued through the night. | They returned for another meeting with Mr Yanukovych in the evening and the talks continued through the night. |
Early on Friday, the presidency said "parties agreed on the initialling of an agreement to resolve the crisis", but gave no further details. | Early on Friday, the presidency said "parties agreed on the initialling of an agreement to resolve the crisis", but gave no further details. |
European mediators had earlier said Mr Yanukovych had been willing to hold an early election, which is one of the protesters' main demands. | |
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who was involved in the talks, said he would be "cautious" about announcing any deal. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who was involved in the talks, said he would be "cautious" about announcing any deal. |
"The opposition in particular wants to be able to consult with some of its members, which is completely understandable," he said. | |
He said all sides at the talks had agreed not to issue a statement before everything had been agreed. | |
Earlier in the crisis, opposition leaders refused to agree anything with the government until they gained the approval of protesters. | Earlier in the crisis, opposition leaders refused to agree anything with the government until they gained the approval of protesters. |
Analysts say that after Thursday's killings, the split between protesters and the government is becoming impossible to bridge. | Analysts say that after Thursday's killings, the split between protesters and the government is becoming impossible to bridge. |
Mr Fabius said the talks had been difficult because Ukraine "is or was on the verge of civil war". | |
Video footage on Thursday showed protesters walking directly towards the police, even as they fired handguns and rifles. | |
Police also shot protesters who went to help wounded colleagues. | Police also shot protesters who went to help wounded colleagues. |
Some of the protesters were armed with hunting rifles, and some threw petrol bombs. | Some of the protesters were armed with hunting rifles, and some threw petrol bombs. |
There were also reports that dozens of police had been taken hostage. | There were also reports that dozens of police had been taken hostage. |
But most of the protesters were unarmed, and tried to protect themselves from the bullets with homemade shields. | But most of the protesters were unarmed, and tried to protect themselves from the bullets with homemade shields. |
MPs assembled for a session of parliament on Thursday afternoon voted to condemn the violence. | MPs assembled for a session of parliament on Thursday afternoon voted to condemn the violence. |
They also called for the use of weapons against protesters to be banned, and for troops and police deployed against them to be withdrawn. | They also called for the use of weapons against protesters to be banned, and for troops and police deployed against them to be withdrawn. |
The session was attended by 239 out of 450 MPs, most of them from opposition parties. | The session was attended by 239 out of 450 MPs, most of them from opposition parties. |
A presidential statement blamed the opposition for the violence, and dismissed calls for a truce as "nothing but a way of playing for time to mobilise and arm militants". | A presidential statement blamed the opposition for the violence, and dismissed calls for a truce as "nothing but a way of playing for time to mobilise and arm militants". |
Are you in Ukraine? Have you seen or taken part in any of the protests? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Ukraine'. | Are you in Ukraine? Have you seen or taken part in any of the protests? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Ukraine'. |
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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