West calls for order in Kiev as violent clashes continue
VIOLENT protests in Ukraine continued throughout the night as politicians failed to reach an agreement and put an end to the bloodshed in the capital city Kiev.
Clashes between authorities and protesters began after riot police stormed an anti-government camp in Kiev yesterday. Reports suggest around 25,000 people were in the camp at the time. Late last night the death toll had reached 18, including at least six policemen.
The unrest began in November last year after the Ukrainian government, led by president Viktor Yanukovich, rejected a deal with the European Union, choosing to strengthen ties with Russia instead.
The Ukrainian government accepted $2bn in aid from Russia just hours after riot police moved in to clear protesters in Independence Square. Yanukovich rejected calls from the EU to accept an International Monetary Fund-backed trade deal instead.
The UK’s minister for Europe David Lidington said he was “appalled” by the clashes and called for an end to the fighting last night. “I condemn the violence and urge all sides to immediately de-escalate the situation,” he said.
“Ukraine needs to see a return to stability that allows the government to tackle the underlying causes of the protests: corruption, impunity, and the lack of checks and balances within the current governmental system. There must be an absolute commitment to the rule of law, as well as respect for fundamental human rights and civil freedoms.”
Other EU leaders, including foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Ukrainian officials to tackle the root causes of the violence and end dramatic scenes which have brought much of the city of Kiev to a standstill.
Yesterday, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko joined the Ukrainian president for talks to end the fighting. Speaking to supporters on the ground in the capital he said: “We will not leave here. This is an island of liberty. The state has launched a war against its own people. Responsible democratic countries cannot stand back and let this happen.”