Ukraine has been in a state of turmoil since November after President Viktor Yanukovych rejected a trade
partnership with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. The move prompted thousands of
protesters to take to streets in central Kiev, which has resulted in sporadic outbreaks of violence over the past
few months.
And Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said on Friday a deal to resolve his country’s political crisis had
been reached with pro-European opposition leaders after the worst violence since Soviet times.
After all night negotiations mediated by visiting European Union foreign ministers, the presidential press
service said an agreement would be signed at noon (1000 GMT) but gave no details.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who was involved in the negotiations, urged caution.
Mr. Fabius said he and the foreign ministers of Poland and Germany met with the Ukrainian president for
several hours, then with the opposition and then with both sides together. The negotiations involved a
representative of the Russian government, he said.
The talks followed an outburst of violence that left scores dead and wounded in central Kiev. According to the
government, the death toll for this week has climbed to 77, but opposition representatives put the total at more
than 100. Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said 16 police officers were among the dead.
The mood on Kiev’s main Independence Square remained relatively calm Friday morning as a fragile truce
agreed the previous evening appeared to be holding.
One world, one dream. A peaceful and harmonious world is all of us want! We believe peace would come to
Ukraine at last.
