- Title: UKRAINE: Pro-government supporters rally in Kiev
- Date: 8th December 2013
- Summary: SHOW: KIEV, UKRAINE (DECEMBER 8, 2013) (REUTERS) PRO-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING UKRAINIAN AND PRO-GOVERNMENT PARTY FLAGS PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UNIDENTIFIED GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER ADDRESSING CROWD, SAYING: "We can't give this country to chaos and allow it to be robbed, we must win and we will win." PEOPLE AT SQUARE IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VITALY, PRO-GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, SAYING: "We have gathered here today to support our government, our authorities that want to help Ukraine, and that do everything to improve life in our country." CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ALYONA, PRO-GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, SAYING: "Our country is not ready to be part of the European Union because we don't have enough money to be there, we need stability, and our stability is our authorities." VARIOUS OF RALLY IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE PROTECTING GOVERNMENT BUILDING
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAE1Z6VK2X0P8C72T7W7CQJM163
- Story Text: Ukrainian government supporters took to the streets of Kiev on Sunday (December 8), calling for the peaceful resolution of the political crisis, while thousands of protesters continued a rally in Independence Square calling for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovich over his decision to spike a deal with the European Union in favour of strengthening ties with Russia.
Pro-government supporters, who demonstrated under the slogan "Let's create Europe in Ukraine", claimed that the opposition is trying to destabilise the situation in the country and said they won't "give the country to chaos".
"We can't give this country to chaos and allow it to be robbed, we must win and we will win," one of the government supporters told the crowd from stage.
A few thousand people gathered in Kiev to support the government on Sunday, local media reported.
"We have gathered here today to support our government, our authorities that want to help Ukraine, and that do everything to improve life in our country," pro-government supporter Vitaly said.
"Our country is not ready to be part of the European Union because we don't have enough money to be there, we need stability, and our stability is our authorities," Alyona, another pro-government supporter, said.
The opposition continued to protest on Kiev's Independence Square on Sunday, expressing their fury with the Yanukovich government for its decision to ditch a landmark pact with the European Union in favour of a trade deal with Moscow, Ukraine's Soviet-era overlord.
The Moscow and Kiev governments have both denied that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yanukovich discussed the customs union in their talks on Friday (December 6) in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, but further bilateral talks are planned for December 17.
Yanukovich and Putin, who regards Ukraine as strategically vital to Moscow's own interests, are widely believed to have struck a bargain whereby Ukraine obtains cheaper Russian gas and possibly credits in exchange for backing away from the EU. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
