Third day of war: Shooting resumes in Maidan
Yanukovich has agreed to bring back the Constitution of 2004 and conduct an early presidential election. The election must be held by December 2014.
The first round of negotiations between Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich, opposition leaders and the French, German and Polish Ministers for Foreign Affairs ended in the morning of February 21. The meeting took 9 hours and ended at 8.30 a.m. FET.
Another round of negotiations has been appointed for Friday. The meeting will be held before the afternoon, head of the EU Representative Office in Ukraine Yan Tambisnki said. Polish and German Minister for Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski and Frank-Walter Steinmeier will take part in it.
The tension in Kiev streets has not been relieved. The Verkhovna Rada voted for troop pullout from Kiev at night. However, the decision has not been fulfilled. Soldiers are still taking part in clashes in the city.
15.40. All the police buses have departed from the building of the Verkhovna Rada. Policemen have left their ammunition and even water-cannons behind.
14.00 Yanukovich has initiated an eraly presidential election.
The Ukrainian President has made a loud statement.
"I would like to say in these tragic days when many people died on both sides of the barricades – there is nothing more precious that life. There are steps that we can all make to restore peace in Ukraine.”
13.30 Meanwhile, MPS are also fighting in the Verkhovna Rada.
13.15 All officers and soldiers detained by activists have been handed over to the government or sent home to their parents, the National Resistance headquarters reports.
12.15 A column of protesters is heading from MAidan to the Verkhovna Rada. People demand an early presidential election within three months instead of December.
12.10 People keep coming to Maidan. Lots of western Ukrainians including policemen who changed sides are arriving. 60 armed policemen have arrived from Sokol, Lviv Oblast.
12.00 The riot police have left the building of the Verkhovna Rada.
11.40 Submachine gunners have entered the Verkhovna Rada. Shooting has been resumed in Maidan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has accused protesters of violating the truce.
10.00 The USA does not want Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich to resign, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told CNN on February 20.
See Euroradio’s online report for February 20 events.
