The European Union criticised Russia on Monday for pressurising Ukraine to reject an EU trade deal, while police fired tear gas at pro-Europe protesters in the former Soviet republic, torn once more between East and West.
Ukraine had been expected to sign a far-reaching trade and political association agreement with the EU at a summit in Vilnius on Friday, the biggest prize in Brussels' efforts to draw states in the former Communist East closer to the EU fold.
But it suddenly announced last week it had decided instead to seek closer trade relations with Moscow.
The decision followed months of Russian pressure, including threats to cut off Ukraine's gas supplies and impose trade restrictions. 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 ties 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 open.
"The European Union will not force Ukraine, or any other partner, to choose between the European Union or any other regional entity," they said in a joint statement.
"We therefore strongly disapprove of the Russian position and actions in this respect."
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, acting to defuse the street protests, said the decision had been difficult but unavoidable - a reference to complaints from Kiev that EU rules were tough on the fragile economy - and pledged to create "a society of European standards".
"My policies on this path always have been, and will continue to be, consistent," he said in a television address which did not mention relations with Russia or refer to EU pressure to release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Tymoshenko's lawyer told about 4,000 demonstrators gathered in Kiev on Monday evening that she had launched a hunger strike to persuade Yanukovich to change his mind.
"As a sign of unity with you, I declare an unlimited hunger strike with the demand to Yanukovich to sign the association agreement," the 52-year-old Tymoshenko in a message to the protesters read out by her defence lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko.
The turnout was smaller than Sunday's but police clashed with demonstrators and, in a brief incident, fired teargas.
Some saw the protests as part of a wider struggle in a country that houses both native Ukrainian and Russian speakers and which many Russians see as culturally part of their nation.
"I have turned out for revolution because I have understood that the promises of Yanukovich to go into Europe were just pure comedy," said Anatoly Gurkalyuk, 33, a builder.
At the end of last week, the EU appeared minded to quietly accept Ukraine's decision to back away from the trade deal. But the protests - with their hallmarks of Ukraine's 'orange' democracy drive of 2004-2005 - look to have spurred the EU into a renewed effort to court Ukraine.
"It is up to Ukraine to freely decide what kind of engagement they seek with the European Union. Ukrainian citizens have shown again these last days that they fully understand and embrace the historic nature of the European association," the joint EU statement said.
Comments
Comments are closed.