Tens of thousands rally in Kiev for closer Ukraine ties to EU

[Peikko 1,575]

Police and protesters have clashed in Kiev, where around 50,000 people gathered to call for Ukraine to sign a landmark agreement with the European Union and break away from ties with Russia.

Opposition political leaders were among the crowds of angry demonstrators, and a passionate call-to-arms was read out by the daughter of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Riot police fired at protesters with tear gas as they tried to maintain a cordon around key government buildings. Kiev officials said they were forced to retaliate after a member of the public threw a smoke grenade during attempts to violently breach the cabinet office.

The protest was thought to be the biggest in Ukraine since those of the peaceful Orange Revolution in 2004, when a presidential election result seemingly marred by corruption was overturned.

Sunday’s demonstration was likewise largely peaceful, but fuelled by anger after president Viktor Yanukovych decided not to sign an agreement with the EU. European enlargement diplomats have been working for years towards a summit in Vilnius next week which would have seen stronger ties forged with the former member of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine is thought to be under pressure from Russia, which wants to bring Kiev into its own customs union. Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed last week that it was the EU who is blackmailing Ukraine, apparently trying to force it into a deal.

In Kiev, whole families travelled in for the protest from regions all over the country. Carrying giant Ukrainian and EU flags, the pro-EU demonstrators chanted “Ukraine is Europe” and sang the national anthem as they marched toward European Square for the rally.

“Should we go toward Europe or toward Russia?” opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a top ally of the imprisoned Ms Tymoshenko, asked the crowd from stage. “It's a choice between the past and the future.”

In an emotional letter, read to demonstrators by her daughter, the former prime minister called on Ukrainians to continue the demonstrations until Mr Yanukovych signed the EU deal.

“Don't let him humiliate us all in this way,” Eugenia Tymoshenko read out, shaking from cold and emotion. “It's our roadmap to a normal life.”

Both US and EU officials expressed deep disappointment with Ukraine's decision, and Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled a visit to Kiev in early December.

But EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele indicated today that the opportunity for Ukraine was still there. In a Twitter post written in English, Ukrainian and Russian, Fuele said, “Our commitment to modernisation of Ukraine remains firm, door remains open, benefits 4 neighbours too, despite rhetoric.”

One key EU demand for signing the deal is the release of Ms Tymoshenko, whose imprisonment the West sees as politically driven. Mr Yanukovych only narrowly defeated her in the 2010 presidential election and sees her as a political threat. He comes up for re-election in 2015, and Ms Tymoshenko has accused him of keeping her behind bars to prevent her from running.

Yuri Lutsenko, an ally of the jailed leader who was himself recently released from prison on charges the West also called politically motivated, struck a more militant tone, asking the protesters whether they were ready to fight for their country's future.

“They declared war on us,” Mr Lutsenko told the crowd. “Are we ready to take on this challenge?”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/tens-of-thousands-rally-in-kiev-for-closer-ukraine-ties-to-eu-8960577.html

Yes, Ukraine really loves Putin and hates the West.

[Karee 4,190]

Police and protesters have clashed in Kiev, where around 50,000 people gathered to call for Ukraine to sign a landmark agreement with the European Union and break away from ties with Russia.

Opposition political leaders were among the crowds of angry demonstrators, and a passionate call-to-arms was read out by the daughter of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Riot police fired at protesters with tear gas as they tried to maintain a cordon around key government buildings. Kiev officials said they were forced to retaliate after a member of the public threw a smoke grenade during attempts to violently breach the cabinet office.

The protest was thought to be the biggest in Ukraine since those of the peaceful Orange Revolution in 2004, when a presidential election result seemingly marred by corruption was overturned.

Sunday’s demonstration was likewise largely peaceful, but fuelled by anger after president Viktor Yanukovych decided not to sign an agreement with the EU. European enlargement diplomats have been working for years towards a summit in Vilnius next week which would have seen stronger ties forged with the former member of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine is thought to be under pressure from Russia, which wants to bring Kiev into its own customs union. Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed last week that it was the EU who is blackmailing Ukraine, apparently trying to force it into a deal.

In Kiev, whole families travelled in for the protest from regions all over the country. Carrying giant Ukrainian and EU flags, the pro-EU demonstrators chanted “Ukraine is Europe” and sang the national anthem as they marched toward European Square for the rally.

“Should we go toward Europe or toward Russia?” opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a top ally of the imprisoned Ms Tymoshenko, asked the crowd from stage. “It's a choice between the past and the future.”

In an emotional letter, read to demonstrators by her daughter, the former prime minister called on Ukrainians to continue the demonstrations until Mr Yanukovych signed the EU deal.

“Don't let him humiliate us all in this way,” Eugenia Tymoshenko read out, shaking from cold and emotion. “It's our roadmap to a normal life.”

Both US and EU officials expressed deep disappointment with Ukraine's decision, and Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled a visit to Kiev in early December.

But EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele indicated today that the opportunity for Ukraine was still there. In a Twitter post written in English, Ukrainian and Russian, Fuele said, “Our commitment to modernisation of Ukraine remains firm, door remains open, benefits 4 neighbours too, despite rhetoric.”

One key EU demand for signing the deal is the release of Ms Tymoshenko, whose imprisonment the West sees as politically driven. Mr Yanukovych only narrowly defeated her in the 2010 presidential election and sees her as a political threat. He comes up for re-election in 2015, and Ms Tymoshenko has accused him of keeping her behind bars to prevent her from running.

Yuri Lutsenko, an ally of the jailed leader who was himself recently released from prison on charges the West also called politically motivated, struck a more militant tone, asking the protesters whether they were ready to fight for their country's future.

“They declared war on us,” Mr Lutsenko told the crowd. “Are we ready to take on this challenge?”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/tens-of-thousands-rally-in-kiev-for-closer-ukraine-ties-to-eu-8960577.html

Yes, Ukraine really loves Putin and hates the West.

Troublemaker.