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| Ukraine peace deal brokered but protesters and barricades remain | Ukraine peace deal brokered but protesters and barricades remain |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Six priests wailed an a cappella dirge as the open funeral casket was carried through the assembled throng and brought to the stage at Independence Square. The body, wrapped in a white cloth with just the head visible, was that of just one of at least 77 people to have died this week in Kiev, but its arrival pricked thousands of eyes with tears, as the huge crowds that had gathered bowed their heads in prayer. | Six priests wailed an a cappella dirge as the open funeral casket was carried through the assembled throng and brought to the stage at Independence Square. The body, wrapped in a white cloth with just the head visible, was that of just one of at least 77 people to have died this week in Kiev, but its arrival pricked thousands of eyes with tears, as the huge crowds that had gathered bowed their heads in prayer. |
| After a chaotic and violent 48 hours that were easily the bloodiest moments since Ukraine's independence, Friday was a confusing day with a lot to take in for the protesters. | After a chaotic and violent 48 hours that were easily the bloodiest moments since Ukraine's independence, Friday was a confusing day with a lot to take in for the protesters. |
| As footage from an extraordinary parliament session was beamed to the big screen on the Maidan, as Independence Square is known, huge cheers went up as resolutions were passed to return to the country's 2004 constitution, fire the unpopular interior minister and free the jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. | As footage from an extraordinary parliament session was beamed to the big screen on the Maidan, as Independence Square is known, huge cheers went up as resolutions were passed to return to the country's 2004 constitution, fire the unpopular interior minister and free the jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. |
| But there was also scepticism about the deal that three EU foreign ministers brokered between the political opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych, in an attempt to end the three-month standoff between protesters and the government that turned so violent this week. For all the concessions, there was also anger that, under the deal, Yanukovych could remain president until the end of the year. | But there was also scepticism about the deal that three EU foreign ministers brokered between the political opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych, in an attempt to end the three-month standoff between protesters and the government that turned so violent this week. For all the concessions, there was also anger that, under the deal, Yanukovych could remain president until the end of the year. |
| Among the hardcore manning the huge barricades around the protest encampment that centres on the Maidan and sprawls into surrounding streets, nobody was planning to pack up and go home. | Among the hardcore manning the huge barricades around the protest encampment that centres on the Maidan and sprawls into surrounding streets, nobody was planning to pack up and go home. |
| "What kind of compromise can there be with a man who has feasted on the blood of his own citizens," asked Volodymyr, a 34-year-old in a balaclava and motorcycle helmet, wielding an axe and guarding one of the barricades at Institutska Street, scene of the worst violence earlier in the week. "The only thing we should be negotiating about is how we kill him." | "What kind of compromise can there be with a man who has feasted on the blood of his own citizens," asked Volodymyr, a 34-year-old in a balaclava and motorcycle helmet, wielding an axe and guarding one of the barricades at Institutska Street, scene of the worst violence earlier in the week. "The only thing we should be negotiating about is how we kill him." |
| When the trio of opposition leaders came to the Maidan in the evening to sell the deal to the crowd, they were whistled, and a member of a hardcore group grabbed the microphone and said that if Yanukovych does not resign by morning, they will initiate a storm of government buildings. | |
| Despite the awful events of previous days, few were deterred from coming to the Maidan, with a crowd in the tens of thousands, ranging from young couples to pensioners. | Despite the awful events of previous days, few were deterred from coming to the Maidan, with a crowd in the tens of thousands, ranging from young couples to pensioners. |
| Save for the small flower-based memorials that are scattered around different corners of the protest zone, the area has once again acquired a good-natured feel. As young men played football and women handed out ham sandwiches and cups of hot tea, it was hard to believe that just 24 hours earlier people were being shot dead in the same spot. | Save for the small flower-based memorials that are scattered around different corners of the protest zone, the area has once again acquired a good-natured feel. As young men played football and women handed out ham sandwiches and cups of hot tea, it was hard to believe that just 24 hours earlier people were being shot dead in the same spot. |
| In just one of many signs of Yanukovych's weakening authority on Friday, a column of 40 policemen from the western city of Lviv arrived in the capital on Friday morning having deserted and announced that they would protect the Maidan instead of serving the central government. | In just one of many signs of Yanukovych's weakening authority on Friday, a column of 40 policemen from the western city of Lviv arrived in the capital on Friday morning having deserted and announced that they would protect the Maidan instead of serving the central government. |
| They walked through the streets protected by a guard of Maidan volunteers to avoid attacks from anyone who had not noticed the Ukrainian flag armbands attached to their police uniforms. Although they were unarmed, one of them admitted that the group had brought weapons with them to Kiev. They were greeted with applause and cries of "Glory to Ukraine", which they happily chorused back. | They walked through the streets protected by a guard of Maidan volunteers to avoid attacks from anyone who had not noticed the Ukrainian flag armbands attached to their police uniforms. Although they were unarmed, one of them admitted that the group had brought weapons with them to Kiev. They were greeted with applause and cries of "Glory to Ukraine", which they happily chorused back. |
| An old woman accosted one of the officers and thanked him profusely. The policeman, Mykola Alushchak, doffed his fur-fringed police cap and said that it was they who owed thanks to the protesters. | An old woman accosted one of the officers and thanked him profusely. The policeman, Mykola Alushchak, doffed his fur-fringed police cap and said that it was they who owed thanks to the protesters. |
| "We were not responsible for the bloodshed, but we still feel ashamed," he said afterwards. "We hope that by coming here and showing that we are not afraid, more and more will follow. This government has no authority." | "We were not responsible for the bloodshed, but we still feel ashamed," he said afterwards. "We hope that by coming here and showing that we are not afraid, more and more will follow. This government has no authority." |
| One of the men guarding the police column, who gave his name as Yura and was clad in body armour and a khaki jacket, said he did not accept any compromise. | One of the men guarding the police column, who gave his name as Yura and was clad in body armour and a khaki jacket, said he did not accept any compromise. |
| "This government has overstepped all the red lines. There is no way that we can take a deal from them. I was serving in the Soviet Army when the Union collapsed and I know how quickly these regimes can fall. We have to go all the way." | "This government has overstepped all the red lines. There is no way that we can take a deal from them. I was serving in the Soviet Army when the Union collapsed and I know how quickly these regimes can fall. We have to go all the way." |
| At the Mikhailovsky Monastery a few streets away from Maidan, a field hospital was set up during the week to deal with wounded and dead. With many protesters scared to go to normal hospitals for fear of being arrested by plainclothes government security, the makeshift field hospitals have sprung up. | At the Mikhailovsky Monastery a few streets away from Maidan, a field hospital was set up during the week to deal with wounded and dead. With many protesters scared to go to normal hospitals for fear of being arrested by plainclothes government security, the makeshift field hospitals have sprung up. |
| Evgeny, a 29-year-old trainee surgeon, said he had performed operations to remove bullets from wounded protesters under the frescoed domes of the cathedral. Several people died in the cathedral and, while the bodies have long gone, the doctors remain, bustling around in the interior. | Evgeny, a 29-year-old trainee surgeon, said he had performed operations to remove bullets from wounded protesters under the frescoed domes of the cathedral. Several people died in the cathedral and, while the bodies have long gone, the doctors remain, bustling around in the interior. |
| During the height of the clashes, there was a shortage of medicines and the call went out on social media that supplies were desperately needed. The response was overwhelming, and one half of the monastery is now stacked with boxes of dressings, anti-burn creams and other medical supplies. | During the height of the clashes, there was a shortage of medicines and the call went out on social media that supplies were desperately needed. The response was overwhelming, and one half of the monastery is now stacked with boxes of dressings, anti-burn creams and other medical supplies. |
| In a pair of designer jeans and a tightly fitting white T-shirt with a red cross painted on it, 31-year-old Stas Drogayev is a psychologist who travelled to Kiev from Odessa to help in any way he could. | In a pair of designer jeans and a tightly fitting white T-shirt with a red cross painted on it, 31-year-old Stas Drogayev is a psychologist who travelled to Kiev from Odessa to help in any way he could. |
| "I'm here to give psychological help to people, though to be honest the mood here is very good, even though people have seen terrible things. There is a tremendous spirit of friendship and camaraderie." | "I'm here to give psychological help to people, though to be honest the mood here is very good, even though people have seen terrible things. There is a tremendous spirit of friendship and camaraderie." |
| When asked about the riot police, who are presumably also in need of counselling after weeks of standing in freezing temperatures and engaging in violent clashes with protesters, he shrugged. | When asked about the riot police, who are presumably also in need of counselling after weeks of standing in freezing temperatures and engaging in violent clashes with protesters, he shrugged. |
| "I'd be willing to give them psychological help, but only when they are inside a prison," he said. | "I'd be willing to give them psychological help, but only when they are inside a prison," he said. |
| The reaction the political leaders got on Maidan shows how hard it will be for them to sell their deal with Yanukovych to the crowds, and it remains doubtful whether the far-right groups and other radical parts of the protest will agree to dismantle the barricades. | |
| There were, however, those on the Maidan who cautiously welcomed the deal. | |
| "We can't spill any more blood," said Lyudmila Timchenko, 62. "Yanukovych is a criminal of course, but he has compromised. Let us grit our teeth and accept it." | "We can't spill any more blood," said Lyudmila Timchenko, 62. "Yanukovych is a criminal of course, but he has compromised. Let us grit our teeth and accept it." |
| But even among the moderate protesters there were a number of voices saying that nothing less than Yanukovych's immediate resignation would do. | But even among the moderate protesters there were a number of voices saying that nothing less than Yanukovych's immediate resignation would do. |
| It is an open question whether Yanukovych can keep his side of the bargain, not to mention the issue of how Russia will react. While the city was largely free of violence on Friday, the surreal three-month standoff has often seen violence escalate just as it seems to have been quelled. | It is an open question whether Yanukovych can keep his side of the bargain, not to mention the issue of how Russia will react. While the city was largely free of violence on Friday, the surreal three-month standoff has often seen violence escalate just as it seems to have been quelled. |
| The final paragraph of The White Guard, penned by Kiev's most famous literary son Mikhail Bulgakov, and dealing with the terrible violence that engulfed the city during the Russian civil war, ponders the senselessness of the suffering. | The final paragraph of The White Guard, penned by Kiev's most famous literary son Mikhail Bulgakov, and dealing with the terrible violence that engulfed the city during the Russian civil war, ponders the senselessness of the suffering. |
| "Everything passes away," it reads. "Suffering, pain, blood, hunger, pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes towards the sky? Why?" | "Everything passes away," it reads. "Suffering, pain, blood, hunger, pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes towards the sky? Why?" |
| On the Maidan on Friday evening, as thousands bowed their heads to the ground to honour those who died in this week's clashes, it is far from clear that they – or President Yanukovych's team, for that matter – are yet ready to look at the sky. |