KIEV, Ukraine, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- After the recent violence in the Ukraine, the leader of the opposition vows to "not give in" and demands the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych.
"We will not give in to a single provocation," said opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, "We will not take one step back from this square." The statement was in response to request from Yanukovych during his televised address Wednesday to the leaders to separate themselves from the radicals who seek "bloodshed and conflict with the law enforcement agencies."
This is the most recent of Yanukovych's attempts to get the opposition to stand down. Last month, he offered government jobs to members of the opposition but it was considered only a symbolic gesture and rejected. He met with the opposition again but talks failed when Yanukovych refused to call back police.
The recent violence has moved Western nations to consider sanctions against the government. The EU called an emergency meeting of the 28 foreign ministers to discuss the degrading situation in the Ukraine. Russia, whose relations with Ukraine were the catalyst for the protests, is supporting Yanukovych and is accusing the protesters starting a coup.
Russia recently loaned much needed money to the Ukraine after the president decided to scuttle talks for a closer relationship with the EU.
[Newsy]
