UKRAINE: Thousands of Ukrainian protesters gather for another big rally in central Kiev amid ongoing tensions and demands for President Yanukovich to resign

Record ID: 214170

  • Title: UKRAINE: Thousands of Ukrainian protesters gather for another big rally in central Kiev amid ongoing tensions and demands for President Yanukovich to resign
  • Date: 9th February 2014
  • Summary: OPPOSITION LEADERS SINGING UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM CROWD SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3J0PWWDY4Q9KG5CTGABZC2R5R
  • Story Text: Several thousands gathered on Kiev's Independence Square, or Maidan Square, on Sunday (February 9) for what has become a weekly rendez-vous for those Ukrainians willing to oust President Viktor Yanukovich.
    Yanukovich is facing mass protests since he favoured in November closer ties with Russia over a trade deal with the European Union.
    Opposition leaders gathered on the stage to address the crowd.
    Boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko called on the president to find a compromise.

    "As we continue to protest, it is the power, the president, first of all the president has to find a compromise between him, the power, and the people," Klitschko told the crowd.
    Klitschko then said he wanted the protest to spread to every city.

    "I hope, I give my best, it will be a peaceful protest. Maidan (Independence square) is not just in the capital of Ukraine, Maidan has to be in every small city. And if people say: 'We don't wan to live by these rules, it is one way to change the power and to make a pressure to the president," Klitschko added.
    Last week, Yanukovich said he will not clear the protesters by force and acting prime minister Serhiy Arbuzov said the movement's intensity was decreasing.
    Among the protesters however, few expect a peaceful solution to a conflict that has been dragging on since November.

    "To be honest I do not believe in any peaceful solution because we see that protesters have been standing here peacefully for a long time but Yanukovich did not pay attention to this," protester Olga Yaroshevska said.
    In exchange of closer ties, Moscow offered cheap gas and much needed cash to Ukraine, which is facing a debt crisis that has left it on the verge of bankruptcy. But Moscow has frozen aid to Ukraine until it knows who will be named in place of the pro-Russian prime minister removed last week in a bid to appease opposition leaders and thousands protesting against Yanukovich's rule.
    Last week, the EU told Ukraine it was ready to help Ukraine to improve its long-term economic development, both financially and with expertise.
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