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The protests erupted in November when President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly refused to sign a long-anticipated political association and free trade agreement with the European Union, opting instead for closer ties with Russia. Yanukovych is widely despised in Ukraine's west, but has strong support in his native Rus... |
The pro-Western demonstrators saw Yanukovych's move as betrayal of national interests and submission to Moscow, and demanded that that he reverse his decision. Their number swelled to hundreds of thousands after a brutal riot police crackdown and their demands have quickly become more radical to include Yanykovych... |
The rallies, which were initially peaceful, spilled into violence in January after parliament, dominated by Yanukovych's supporters, passed repressive laws intended to quash the protest. For several days in January, radical protesters hurled firebombs and stones at police, who retaliated with stun grenades, tear g... |
Fighting ceased after Yanukovych made some concessions, including the retraction of the repressive legislation and the ouster of his prime minister. The opposition kept pushing for constitutional changes that would limit the presidential powers, and the refusal by pro-Yanukovych's lawmakers to endorse the amendmen... |
Unlike last month, firearms were widely used this time, resulting in a much higher death toll. |
Pitched battles led to further radicalization and made both sides unwilling to compromise. The opposition would accept nothing but Yanukovych's resignation. The president is apparently prepared to fight until the end. |
Both Russia and the West have made vigorous efforts to draw Ukraine into its orbit — and that tug of war continues in the crisis. |
Moscow sees what is now Ukraine as the birthplace of the Russian statehood and the Russian Orthodox Christianity. Most of modern-day Ukraine came under the control of the Russian czars in the 1700s after being part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Except for some western regions, which were part of Poland between... |
President Vladimir Putin sees close economic and political ties with Ukraine as essential for the success of his project to build an alliance of ex-Soviet neighbors. |
Russia has done its best to derail Ukraine's pact with the EU with a mixture of trade sanctions and promises. After Yanukovych spiked the deal, Moscow has offered a $15 billion bailout to help Ukraine avoid an imminent default, but so far has only provided $3 billion, freezing further disbursements pending the out... |
The European Union and the United States have urged Yanukovych to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. But numerous visits to Kiev by Western diplomats have achieved little result so far. |
Exasperated, Washington and the EU warned Yanukovych they would introduce sanctions against those responsible for the latest violence. Sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes could force Yanukovych's hand by hitting powerful tycoons whose support is essential for his rule. |
Protesters have seized government buildings in most western regions of Ukraine, where public support for Yanukovych is close to zero, declaring themselves independent from the central government. They seized hundreds of firearms at police and security agency headquarters and sent volunteers to join battles in Kiev, acc... |
In the Russian-speaking east and south, where the majority of the population depends on trade with Russia and supports close ties with Moscow, pro-Western demonstrators have little public following. Some officials and lawmakers there have urged Yanukovych to quash protests in Kiev at any cost. |
The sharp divide between east and west has fueled fears of a messy breakup of the country. |
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