Ukraine police clash with pro-EU protesters

[pampango]

Source: Aljazeera

About 50,000 demonstrators rallied in the centre of Kiev to demand that Ukraine's government reverse course and sign a landmark agreement with the European Union in defiance of Russia. However, some protesters on Sunday tried to storm government buildings and police responded by using tear gas and batons against them.

The protest was the biggest the country has seen since the peaceful 2004 Orange Revolution, which overturned a fraudulent presidential election result and brought a Western-leaning government to power.

Ukraine's leaders announced suddenly last week that they were pulling out of the EU agreement because they said the country could not afford to break trade ties with Russia.

The Russian government has worked aggressively to derail the EU deal and bring Ukraine into the Moscow-dominated Customs Union.

Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/11/ukraine-police-clash-with-pro-eu-protesters-20131124142743878664.html

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Interesting times in the Ukraine.

[locks]

1. Thanks for the post

I have a good friend serving in the Peace Corps in Ukraine. Though he works in Donetsk he goes to Kiev often.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

2. The future of Ukraine...

is with the EU and the west, not with Russia.

[pampango]

4. Putin has been leaning on them really hard to prevent this from happening. Nostalgia

for the 'good ol' days' when the Ukraine was part of the USSR perhaps?

[dipsydoodle]

3. Dwindled to 4000 by this evening.

.

[pampango]

5. Ukraine's president is talking like their future is with the EU.

Whether he means it or is trying to pacify the crowds remains to be seen.

Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych calls for calm

Mr Yanukovych defended the move, saying it was forced by economic necessity.

The EU's top two officials have sharply criticised Russia for exerting heavy economic pressure on Ukraine.

He said his government had not given up attempts to bring closer ties between Ukraine and the EU.

"Today I would like to underline this: there is no alternative to the creation of a society of European standards in Ukraine and my policies on this path always have been, and will continue to be, consistent," he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25087162

[pampango]

6. No let up in pro-EU protests in Ukraine as fresh demonstrations erupt in Kiev

Demonstrators have refused to move as pro-EU protests on the streets of Kiev enter their second day. Close to the parliament building in the capital Kiev it is reported some protesters attempted to enter a government building but were forced back by police using batons and tear gas.

Violent clashes had erupted on Sunday night when more than 100,000 people gathered in European Square. The protest was the biggest in Ukraine since the 2004 Orange Revolution.

Pro-EU supporters want Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich to sign the trade pact with the European Union as agreed, during a summit in Lithuania on Friday.

The government has said it cannot afford to break ties with Russia which is trying to bring Kiev into its own customs union.

http://www.euronews.com/2013/11/25/no-let-up-in-pro-eu-protests-in-ukraine-as-fresh-demonstrations-erupt-in-kiev/