- Title: UKRAINE: Thousand gather for rally in Kiev in support of EU integration
- Date: 25th November 2013
- Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 25, 2013) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS TOP VIEWS OF PROTEST IN PROGRESS PEOPLE AT RALLY, THEN EUROPEAN UNION FLAG WOMEN WRAPPED IN UKRAINIAN FLAGS MAN IN MASK TOP VIEW OF PROTEST IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UKRAINIAN PROTESTER, LYUDMILA NAUMOVA, SAYING: "We are for our future because we are not satisfied with the life we have now. We don't see that there will be any improvements in the future. That's why we're for European integration." (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN STUDENT AND PROTESTER FROM LVIV, MARKYAN FATSICH, SAYING: "We don't believe that the people will leave here tomorrow." (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PROTESTER, STANISLAV GUMENYUK, SAYING: "The more people who gather here, the better the chance we will have for victory, because the authorities are afraid of the people." EU FLAG MAN HOLDING UP UKRAINIAN FLAG AND CHANTING 'GLORY TO UKRAINE!' PEOPLE MOVING BARRICADES TOP VIEW OF PROTEST IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 10th December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADH7DBIQJSZ0YKKOTGXX3SMGDQ
- Story Text: Ukrainian protesters braved a continuous downpour and cold weather on Monday (November 25), as they protested Ukraine's abrupt u-turn last week that took the country off of the road to cementing closer relations with the European Union.
Taking turns chanting "Glory to Ukraine!" and waving Ukrainian and EU flags, and huddling together under umbrellas, protesters said they wanted to be a part of Europe.
"We are for our future because we are not satisfied with the life we have now. We don't see that there will be any improvements in the future. That's why we're for European integration," said Lyudmila Naumova.
Maintaining pressure on the government by protesting was essential, said protester Stanislav Gumenyuk.
"The more people who gather here, the better the chance we will have for victory, because the authorities are afraid of the people," Gumenyuk said.
Ukraine had been expected to sign a far-reaching trade and political association agreement with the EU at a summit in Vilnius on Friday (November 29). But it suddenly announced last week it had decided to seek closer trade relations with Moscow instead.
The decision followed months of Russian pressure, including threats to cut off Ukraine's gas supplies and impose trade restrictions. At the same time, Moscow has accused the European Union of putting the squeeze on Kiev, too.
Protests have since broken out on the streets of Kiev, with tens of thousands of people demonstrating in favour of closer relations with the European Union, the biggest outpouring since its pro-democracy Orange Revolution nine years ago.
In unusually firm language on Monday, the EU's two most senior officials, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, denounced Russia's actions and said the EU offer remained on the table. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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