Phone call between Barroso and Yanukovich in light of killed protesters in Ukraine

Commissioner Füle will travel to Kiev tomorrow and HRVP Ashton may travel to Kiev next week. No sanction so far from the EU: “We are ready to assist in the political dialogue first.” Five activists have been killed and more than 400 people have been injured during the last wave of protests.

In light of the escalating violence in Ukraine, the EU has decided to act: European Parliament President José Manuel Barroso telephoned President Viktor Yanukovich this morning to express his “deep concerns.” Olivier Bailly, spokesperson for the European Commission, announced the phone call and explained that Barroso has urged Yanukovich to start immediately a dialogue at the highest levels of the opposition, given that this his role as country’s President. Barroso also recalled that “If the if the situation in Ukraine is not stabilised, the EU would assess possible consequences for bilateral relations.” In addition, he highlighted the EU’s readiness to assist in the political dialogue promoted by Barroso, to contribute to the de-escalation of the situation: to this end, Commissioner Füle will travel to Kiev tomorrow, and HRVP Ashton may travel to Kiev next week, Bailly announced.

During the phone call, Yanukovich agreed to meet Commissioner Füle and HRVP Ashton, welcome in the country to assist in the political dialogue. President Yanukovich stated he is committed and ready to the highest-level dialogue with protesters, and explained there will not be a declaration of a state of emergency at this moment.

EU proceeds with its calls to reasonableness and to a stop of violence. No sanction has been foreseen so far against Ukraine: “For the time being we want to give political dialogue a chance,” said Bailly, “we asked political authorities to start it and to assist it: to this end, Commissioner Füle will meet both authorities and representatives from the civil society.” For sure, if the violence continued, “the EU would examine the situation and the possible consequences for bilateral relations with Ukraine.”

Today marks a pause in the violence: a “ceasefire” until 8 p.m. (7 p.m. in Italy) in Kiev, full of tyre barricades and cars burnt during the recent wave of extreme violence. The calm before the storm, maybe: Ukraine opposition gave Yanukovich an ultimatum. If no concession is made before that time, “we are ready to face police bullets” said protesters. The ultimatum was delivered after an unsuccessful meeting between the President and the opposition high ranks: no result obtained, lamented the protesters, who decided to allow some hours for new negotiations before new actions.

In the meantime, the count of the victims gets higher and higher. The protestors’ medical centre said more than five protesters have been killed, and over 400 people have been injured during the last four days of revolt. The Ukraine Interior Minister said 254 police officers have been injured during the protests, 104 of them still hospitalised. Since last Sunday, according to ministerial data, 75 protesters have been arrested, and 26 of them are currently detainee.

 Letizia Pascale