Russia Raises Stakes for Ukraine as Yanukovych Digs In
By Kateryna Choursina and Daryna Krasnolutska - Jan 29, 2014
Russia ramped up pressure on Ukraine with a threat of withholding aid until it forms a new cabinet as President Viktor Yanukovych refused to drop conditions for pardoning protesters, prolonging the country’s crisis.
As President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would hold aid to Ukraine until the country has a new government, lawmakers in Kiev haggled for 12 hours over amnesty proposals after a string of concessions by the administration. A day after accepting his prime minister’s resignation, Yanukovych pushed through a bill that requires activists to relinquish seized buildings before their comrades in custody are freed.
Yanukovych, 63, is facing calls to resign in protests that have spread from the capital to other cities since his rejection of a European Union association pact in November. The demonstrations turned deadly last week and the turmoil has reignited a tug-of-war between Russia and Europe for influence in the nation of 45 million people. The opposition vowed to stay on the streets.
“The law does everything to escalate the situation,” Vitali Klitschko, 39, the leader of the opposition UDAR party, said before the vote. “The opposition will hold its position and fight on for the release of all detained and arrested activists.”
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-29/russia-raises-stakes-for-ukraine-as-yanukovych-digs-in.html
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