About: Viktor Yanukovych

EU calls emergency summit on Ukraine

In what could be seen as a bid to ease tensions between Russia and the west, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia sees no need to use military force in the Crimea region of Ukraine... for now. Putin stressed that the use force would be 'a choice of last resort'. But the Russian president warned western powers that imposing sanctions against Russia would be 'counter-productive', after the US and the EU threatened Moscow on Monday with sanctions if Russian troops do not withdraw from the region.

EU threatens Russia with sanctions over Crimea invasion

EU Foreign Affairs ministers urged Russia on Monday to withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian region of Crimea or face possible 'targeted measures'.

EU leaders condemn Russia’s invasion of Crimea, suspend G8 Sochi summit preparations

EU leaders and the international community have strongly condemned Russia's invasion of the Ukrainian region of Crimea, after thousands of Russian troops seized control of the area over the weekend. Ukraine already mobilised for war on Sunday. EU foreign affairs ministers are meeting on Monday in Brussels to seek for a common response to the crisis, which has already been dubbed the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the fall of the Soviet Union in the late '90.

EU Ashton in Kiev as new government accuses ousted Yanukovich of mass murder

The Ukrainian authorities announced on Monday that ousted president Viktor Yanukovich is wanted on an arrest warrant for mass murder, after Ukrainian police snipers shot anti-government protesters earlier last week. The Commission has so far declined to comment on the arrest warrant, as EU Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton is in Kiev for discussions with party leaders about financial aid to Ukraine. The warrant was issued after Russian-backed Yanukovich fled Kiev by helicopter on Friday, in a failed attempt to reach Russia.

EU calls for ‘free and fair’ elections in Ukraine

EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle called on Ukrainian leaders and opposition on Thursday to form an 'inclusive' government and urged Kiev to ensure 'free and fair elections' in the crisis-hit country. In a 3 day visit to Kiev, in which he held talks with government and opposition, Füle insisted on the need for both sides to agree on constitutional reform, potentially limiting government powers.

Putin reaffirms loan, energy offer to Ukraine at EU-Russia summit

In his first meeting with EU leaders since violent anti-government protests began in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Brussels on Tuesday to deliver one clear message: Russia's offer to Ukraine of a $15 billion loan and gas price reductions still remains on the table, even if the new government is run by the opposition. But Putin also warned that Russia would closely monitor Ukraine's economic policies to make sure it gets its money back.

EU calls for ‘adoption of amnesty law’ in Ukraine

After the Ukrainian Parliament abolished the 'anti-protest' laws on Tuesday, the European Commission urged the Ukrainian authorities to also grant amnesty to convicted protesters. 'Ukraine should adopt an amnesty law', European Commission spokesperson Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said on Tuesday in Brussels.

An ‘inclusive political process decisive’ for Ukraine’s stability, EU says

Asked by EURACTIV if the Commission was advising the Ukrainian opposition to opt for power sharing, spokesperson Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen avoided a direct answer and insisted that Füle held meetings both with the opposition and the authorities. An “inclusive political process” is “decisive” for stability in Ukraine, she said. 'The first step is regaining the trust of the people by stopping the spiral of violence and intimidation.' Ahrenkilde-Hansen added.