Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych announced late Wednesday that he and the protestors who have been barraged with bullets the past two days have reached what he calls a "truce." Yanukovych and the protestors agreed to start negotiations for a stop to the violence. In return, Yanukovych promised that Kiev police would not descend upon any protest camps.
The truce was promptly broken Thursday as gunfire broke out in Independence Square. This latest round has caused 18 deaths and more injuries.
This comes a day after 25 protesters died and over 200 were injured as police stormed protestors in Kiev's Independence Square. President Barack Obama urged the Ukrainian government to use "restraint," which includes not using the Ukrainian military to suppress protestors who, prior to the clashes, had occupied government buildings in Kiev. The Russian foreign minister likened the situation to a coup that resulted from "Western politicians."
The situation in Ukraine began in November when people began to protest Yanukovych's decision to increase Ukraine's ties to Russia rather than the European Union. Yanukovych responded by having the Ukrainian parliament pass anti-protest laws. Ukraine had been rather peaceful for a few weeks, but that peace ended yesterday along with 25 lives.
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