Moscow to assist Yanukovich
The Russian government has offered a major package of economic assistance to embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who is facing huge protests in his own country. Russia is now set to buy $15bn (£9.22bn) of Ukrainian bonds to help boost the country’s public finances. Moscow is also slashing the price that Ukraine pays for Russian gas by a third. Protests began again in Kiev at the end of November, when the government rejected an EU trade deal.