West-backed protesters look to cut down Ukraine prez’s powers
6 Feb 2014 3:53 AM IST
Yanukovich was still weighing whom he might name as his new prime minister to calm the crisis on the streets - though rumours swirled that he could be considering a hardline ally who at the moment heads his administration.
As the Ukrainian central bank intervened again to stop panic demand for dollars weakening the hryvnia currency, Ukraine sharply criticised EU heavyweight Germany after comments by its foreign minister that sanctions should be used as a threat unless a political solution was found soon to end the crisis.
At least six people have been killed in the past two weeks in unprecedented politically-linked violence in Kiev, whose centre is now a heavily-barricaded fortified protest zone.
Fierce clashes between riot police and squads of radical protesters have prompted global concern that the ex-Soviet republic, a substantial buffer territory of 46 million people between Russia and the EU, might plunge into civil war.
Though there has been no violence in Kiev for several days, Western governments have warned Yanukovich that it risks flaring up again unless he can find a compromise with the opposition.
Yanukovich triggered the uprising on the streets last November when he walked away from a trade deal with the European Union in favour of closer economic ties with Russia.
Though his move was rewarded with a $15-billion offer of credits and cheap gas from Moscow for Ukraine's ailing economy, it provoked outrage among millions of Ukrainians who dream of a European future for their country.
TUG-OF-WAR
Caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between Russia and the West, Yanukovich faces tough choices over his future alliances.
The United States and its EU allies are backing the protesters, though largely with words rather than deeds or cash.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's hefty economic lifeline comes with a condition that he forms a government that suits Moscow.
As the Ukrainian central bank intervened again to stop panic demand for dollars weakening the hryvnia currency, Ukraine sharply criticised EU heavyweight Germany after comments by its foreign minister that sanctions should be used as a threat unless a political solution was found soon to end the crisis.
At least six people have been killed in the past two weeks in unprecedented politically-linked violence in Kiev, whose centre is now a heavily-barricaded fortified protest zone.
Fierce clashes between riot police and squads of radical protesters have prompted global concern that the ex-Soviet republic, a substantial buffer territory of 46 million people between Russia and the EU, might plunge into civil war.
Though there has been no violence in Kiev for several days, Western governments have warned Yanukovich that it risks flaring up again unless he can find a compromise with the opposition.
Yanukovich triggered the uprising on the streets last November when he walked away from a trade deal with the European Union in favour of closer economic ties with Russia.
Though his move was rewarded with a $15-billion offer of credits and cheap gas from Moscow for Ukraine's ailing economy, it provoked outrage among millions of Ukrainians who dream of a European future for their country.
TUG-OF-WAR
Caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between Russia and the West, Yanukovich faces tough choices over his future alliances.
The United States and its EU allies are backing the protesters, though largely with words rather than deeds or cash.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's hefty economic lifeline comes with a condition that he forms a government that suits Moscow.
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