Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko arrived in Minsk for the talks with Russia, EU and the Eurasian Union countries

Participants of the Minsk meeting
(Image: Kyiv Post)

Amid the ongoing battles in the Eastern Ukrainian Donbas region and continuous violations of Ukrainian border by the Russian military and military technique the first round of talks in Minsk, Belarus, was held on 28 August. The meeting was held in the format “Ukraine – Russia – EU – Eurasian Union” and is supposed to help to find the ways and possibilities to resolve the deepening crisis in Eastern Ukraine.

The Minsk meeting was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Presidents of the countries-members of the Custom Union, Belarusian Aleksandr Lukashenko and Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev and were observed also by three EU commissioners, including Catherine Ashton.

Ukraine: anti-terrorist operation resumed after Easter truce amid Russian continuous aggression and threats of military invasion

Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchinov
(Image: Kyiv Post)

After two days of truce on the Orthodox Easter Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchinov ordered the massive anti-terrorist operation launched in eastern Ukraine to resume. Ukrainian Armed Forces, police and security forces, forces of SBU (Intelligence Service) and recently formed National Guard have continued their anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions aimed to eliminate terrorist activity on the region and prevent its spread in the country and to restore stability and security in the restive region.

Despite the recent talks held between Ukraine, US, EU and Russia in Geneva and finished with signing of the joint Geneva Declaration calling for all the sides to show restrain and to take all the measures in order to de-escalate the deepening crisis, the aggression and separatist activity backed by Russia and supported and coordinated by Russian Security Forces and military continues in Eastern Ukrainian cities, as many administrative buildings in Donetsk region are still being seized by separatists and pro-Russian forces. The city of Slovyansk, located in Donetsk region, is still under almost total control of the separatists and terrorists.

European Parliament is ready to present its resolution regarding Ukrainian situation. EU condemns use of force. Protests are ongoing

Thousands of Ukrainians gathering on Independence Square
(Image: Euan McDonald)

Western politicians including representatives of USA and EU have strongly condemned recent use of force by Ukrainian government against peaceful protesters when security forces and riot police have attempted to disperse the protests on the night of 11 December and stormed Independence Square, the main site of the protesters.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of EU, who is in Kyiv since Tuesday, 10 December, has also expressed deep concern of EU and condemned using of force and stripping citizens of their fundamental rights and freedoms, which include freedom of expression, peaceful protests and gatherings. It’s worth mentioning that Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has assured Mrs. Ashton along with other representatives of Western countries that the talks with the oppositional forces will be organized and the force won’t be used again. Thus Mrs. Ashton expressed her disappointment over the recent events as the violent storming of the protesters happened the same night.

Ukraine. Nearly 10-20 thousand protesters arrived on Maidan amid attempt to disperse protests. EU Catherine Ashton holds emergency meeting with EU diplomats

More and more protesters arrive on Independence Square after
night's storming
(Image: Forbes UA)

Nearly 10-20 thousand protesters have gathered in Kyiv downtown on Independence Square on Wednesday night as security forces, riot police and special forces “Berkut” started to surround the site of protests and storm Euromaidan.

Storm has started at 1:30 a.m. local time, as the huge line of riot police and “Berkut” equipped with the shields and sticks has started their storm of the peaceful protests located on Independence Square and in the governmental district. Barricades and block posts of protesters in the governmental district have been destroyed by the police, police pushed protesters back to the Square. Riot police has been approaching Maidan from several directions surrounding the protests site and taking it into a narrow circle. People have been holding their positions trying to protect the barricades. Politicians, activists, artists and priests have been calling from the stage to the policemen and soldiers to disobey criminal orders to attack their own people.

Breaking: Riot police and Special Forces are dispersing protests in Kyiv late in the night

Riot police trying to disperse protests in Kyiv
(Image: Ukrstream TV)

Nearly thousands of soldiers of Special Forces and riot police are currently storming the protests area near Independence Square trying to disperse protests.

Lines of riot police moved towards the lines of protesters on the streets leading to the governmental district. The barricades erected earlier by protesters have been destroyed by the police and security forces, block posts of protesters also removed. Line of activists, Afghanistan war veterans and politicians stand now in front of the riot police lines urging the soldiers to stop and not to use violence and trying not to let the soldiers move forth.

EU Catherine Ashton visited Kyiv. Riot police started dispersal of protests despite reassurances of Yanukovich that force won’t be used again

Massive anti-government protests in Kyiv
(Image: Radio Svoboda)

Massive anti-government protests continue in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and in other Ukrainian cities as well despite the frosts and snow and threats of forces dispersal of the protests.

Special Forces and police have cleansed on Monday, 9 December, the perimeter of the governmental district, earlier blocked by the protesters, and has pushed demonstrators back to Independence Square, but people remain there and protests are ongoing. People organize themselves, their life and security on Maidan and also take measures to clean the snow. Situation is still tense, but the spirits are really high.

Ukraine: Yanukovich meets the previous Presidents without cameras; US and EU high representatives arrive in Kyiv; protesters remain on Maidan

Massive anti-government protests in Kyiv
(Image: IPress)

Ukrainian President Victory Yanukovich is expected to meet three previous presidents, Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Victor Yushchenko. The meeting is planned to be held on Tuesday, 10 December, and was initiated by first President of independent Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk.

Leonid Kracvhuk has proposed Victor Yanukovich to hold negotiations with the previous presidents in order to discuss current situation and deepening political crisis and to organize also national dialogue attended by the representatives of government and oppositional forces which is considered being necessary to resolve the crisis in a peaceful way. Victor Yanukovich has accepted this invitation.

The meeting of four Ukrainian presidents was expected to be aired online of one of the state TV channels, but on Tuesday it was announced the recorded version of the meeting will be shown on the state TV in the evening. The meeting is being held behind the closed doors, with no journalists and reporters allowed.

Ukraine: Million-man march was held in Kyiv and all over the country

Massive anti-government and pro-European protests in
Kyiv
(Image: Gazeta UA)

Between 500 thousand and 1 million people (according to different estimation) have attended Sunday’s million-man march “People’s Council” in Kyiv with tens of thousands of Ukrainians protesting also in other Ukrainian cities as well.

After failure of Vilnius Summit and refusal of Victor Yanukovich to sign Association Agreement with EU, violent dispersal of peaceful protesters on 30 November and terrible beating of demonstrators and journalists by special security forces in front of Presidential Administration on 1 December people continue their massive protests and strikes during the second week. Protesters also continue blocking of the administrative district in Kyiv where most of the governmental buildings are located.