It's on! Anti-government protesters topple statue of Lenin in Kiev

[Are_grits_groceries]

Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters gathered in Kiev Dec. 8 to demand the resignation of the ruling government. In the protests—the third Sunday in a row of such protests—a statue of former Communist leader Vladimir Lenin appears to have been toppled.

"The opposition is ready to sit down, talk, negotiate change in the situation to seek an exit from the current political crisis."

At issue is whether or not Ukraine will join the EU, something supported by the anti-government protesters but opposed by President Viktor Yanukovych. Protesters suspect President Yanukovych is bowing to Russian pressure not to join the EU. Opposition leaders indicated Dec. 6 that they're ready to talk to President Yanukovych about ending the standoff.
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Protesters and police:







http://cir.ca/news/ukraine-protests

As you can see, the police are basically standing down. I have no idea what would happen if this changes.
It's anyone's guess how this will turn out. Putin holds a very high card in that the Ukraine owes them billions in debt. They also depend on Russia or a lot of aid.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

1. The future of Ukraine is with the EU,

not a province in Putinstan.

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. It may very well be.

However, when it gets to that future is up in the air.
Whether anybody likes it or not, Putin is going to have a real say in this.

[FarCenter]

9. Putin has gas; the EU has wind; the Ukraine without energy is very cold.

[cprise]

10. They want to become NATO's new Poland

A frontline state pushing a neocon agenda in the region, with the economic boost that comes from an American military presence.

That would likely deflate Poland's economic ambitions, however.

[polichick]

2. Impressive. Americans are going to have to learn how to protest effectively.

[reddread]

4. pepper spray, batons and projectiles to the face

and thats just Jerry Brown's moonbeams in the "liberal" state of California.

[polichick]

5. Horrifying! It's hard to see how this country will ever...

rid itself of the evil that has taken over - but I do think we'll have to fight.

[reddread]

7. beat em at the ballot box

but not by choosing their "choices"

[BelgianMadCow]

11. It's interesting to note that this started with a couple hundred radicals trying to storm parliament

they were met with serious violence, and passers-by and journalists got caught up in it as well.
And THEN did the mass of people come out onto the streets.

Just compare it with OWS in the US - "radicals" being agressively swept away and then...nothing.

[U4ikLefty]

15. Talking shit about Occupy...typical

"swept away and then...nothing"...nice!!! Enjoy your internship with FOX.

[BelgianMadCow]

17. sorry, but I think you misread that

or I was unclear. I meant "nothing" as in "instead of rising to the defence of peaceful protesters, the majority of people allowed the crackdown to happen" - unlike in the Ukraine, or in Turkey, or in...

on edit: and if you'd like to show "talking shit of Occupy" as typical for me, you'll have a real hard time, given threads like this.

[Jester Messiah]

12. Won't happen so long as non-violence is held sacrosanct.

"Oh, you mean you'll just sit still while we beat you and pepper spray you? Good times."

[Gman]

6. I'm not sure it's a good move for the EU

In light of its recent problems.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. This is BIG!

@maxseddon:
Der Spiegel reports Merkel is planning to back @Klitschko

The Klitschko brothers are leading the ant-government protests.

[Seeking Serenity]

13. I'm surprised that they still

had a statue of Lenin to be pulled down at this late date.

[BelgianMadCow]

14. How is this not getting a gazillion recs?

just saying. It would seem camping in tents in occupied squares isn't such a dead idea after all.

[lpbk2713]

16. Hey Jude ...

"Naaa na na na-na-na-na ... "