Ukrainian president announces truce, start of talks with opposition
20 February 2014, 01:39
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday announced a 'truce' and the start of direct talks with the opposition after holding private talks with three anti-government leaders.
'Based on the results of the meeting, the sides announced a truce and the start of a negotiations process aimed at ending the bloodshed (and) stabilising the situation in the country for the benefit of civil peace,' a statement posted on the president's website said after talks that included opposition leader Vitali Klitschko.
The statement, issued on the eve of a visit by the foreign ministers of Germany, Poland and France, appeared to indicate that riot police who on Tuesday night advanced on to Kiev's Independence Square would not take further immediate steps to break up the encampment of protesters.
Former economy minister Arseny Yatseniuk, one of the opposition leaders, said in a statement on the website of his Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party: 'The storming of the Maidan (Independence Square) which the authorities had planned today will not take place.
'A truce has been declared. The main thing is to protect human life,' he said.
Yanukovich issued his statement after meeting Yatseniuk and the two other opposition leaders, boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko and far-right nationalist Oleh Tyahnibok.
Ukraine's president and opposition agree to truce
Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated that the truce has been reached during negotiations between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition. It was decided to begin negotiations for the stabilization, according to the Batkivshchyna press office.
'There is positive news, the assault and clearance of the Independence Square that was planned before is cancelled. Now the truce and the beginning of the negotiation process in order to stabilize the situation has begun,' said Yatsenyuk.
Earlier it was reported that Yanukovych met with Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Vitali Klitschko and Oleg Tyagnibok, the purpose of the meeting was peaceful settlement of the socio-political crisis in Ukraine.
The riots have resumed in Kiev on Tuesday, on the day of the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada, on which the opposition demanded to return the parliamentary-presidential form of government and to restore the constitution of 2004.
Aggressive crowd tried to come to the Parliament of Ukraine, the radicals broke into the building in the center of Kiev, burned tires, threw stones at police officers.
According to police, the radicals used firearms for the first time. As a result of the riots 26 people were killed, 10 of them were law enforcement officers. According to the MIA, about 800 people got injured.
Voice of Russia, AFP, RIA, Reuters, RT
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