The head of the European Commission today gave a stern warning to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich to end the violence that has seen battles between protestors and police on the streets of Kiev, after the deaths of at least three people yesterday.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso warned Yanukovich that unless the crackdown against anti-government protestors ends, the European Union may be forced into action.
The violence erupted after the Ukrainian government decided not to sign integration treaties with the European Union in late November, reportedly to appease Russian interests, with whom they decided to seek closer ties with. Angered by the decision, thousands of protestors took to the streets and though clashes were frequently violent, they turned deadly on Wednesday.
With growing pressure on the government to put an end to the violence, talk of sanctions against Ukraine has already emerged with Lithuania, long known for its anti-Russia stance, reportedly one of the most vocal backers. However, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, earlier stated,
“Neither the foreign minister nor I believe that sanctions are the order of the day”.
Meanwhile Ukrainian opposition figures set the government a 24-hour deadline on Wednesday night, demanding concessions from Yanukovich.
Addressing the protestors, former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko of the Udar Party, said,
“Tomorrow, if the president won’t listen to us we will go into attack. There is no other way.”
His call was echoed by Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk of the Fatherland Party, who told the protestors,
“If there will be a bullet in the forehead, so be it. It will be an honest, just and brave action.”