http://AtlanticCouncil.org/Ukraine
Russia halted imports of chocolate from one of Ukraine's main confectionary makers, Roshen, saying its products fall below safety standards. This along with other restrictions on Ukrainian imports was seen as retaliation for Ukraine's efforts to integrate further with the EU. Russia asked Belarus and Kazakhstan, as members of its Customs Union, to ban Roshen’s products as well.
Russian officials suddenly demanded that commercial trucks leaving Ukraine for Russia be completely unloaded, inspected item by item, and then reloaded. According to the Ukrainian Employers Union, a trade association that represents many of Ukraine's largest exporters, border officials said Moscow has declared all goods from Ukraine to be "high risk." It lifted the restrictions after a week, but a senior economic aide to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said they could become permanent if Ukraine signed the EU Association Agreement.
Russian presidential adviser, Sergei Glazyev, warned that tariffs and trade checks that Russia would impose after Ukraine signed a deal with the EU could cost Ukraine billions of dollars and could result in a default.
Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev told Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov at a regional meeting in St. Petersburg Ukraine would risk the Russia-led customs union imposing tariffs on its goods if it signs the EU free-trade accord.
Under the threat of crippling trade sanctions by Russia, President Yanukovych announced that it has suspended its plans to sign a far reaching political trade agreement with the European Union to instead pursue new partnerships with Russia's customs union. This comes after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedec told Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov Ukraine would risk the Russia-led customs union imposing tarffs on its goods if Ukraine signed the EU agreement.
Pro-EU Protestors occupied the landmark plaza, Independence Square, and other government buildings.
The Vilnius Summit was the third conference for the Eastern Partnership program held in Vilnius, Lithuania. During the summit. President Yanukovych proposed a trilateral trade agreement that included Russia. EU Commission President Jose Barosso rejected the proposal and Ukraine left the summit without signing the Association Agreement.
Clashes erupted in the Independence square between police and protesters, with some demonstrators occupying city administration buildings. Various government officials and opposition leaders including Yury Lutsenko, a former interior minister and now head of the opposition Third Ukrainian Republic, and leader of the opposition Udar party, Vitali Klitschko, encourage the protestors to not to stand down.
The Ukraine Parliament defeated a measure calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his government.
Prior to the non-confidence vote in parliament, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov apologized for the use of force by police against the pro-EU protestors on November 30.
President Yanukovych and President Putin held brief talks in Sochi after Yanukovych made an official visit to China.
Demonstrators in Kyiv toppled a statue of the Soviet Union founder, Vladimir Lenin. More than 100,000 demonstrators swarmed into the neighborhood that includes the parliament, presidential administration, and government headquarters in an attempt to blockade the area.
Police in full riot gear attempted to dismantle protestor barricades that had been blocking access to government buildings including City Hall. Security forces appeared to pull out early in the morning.
Western Diplomats including Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and the European Union Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton for talks with President Viktor Yanukovych and to reinforce the EU's call for dialogue between the Ukrainian government and opposition. Ashton announced that during her meeting with Yanukovych, the President assured her that Ukraine aims to sign an EU agreement and also discussed Ukraine’s concerned about short term economic challenges.
An estimated 200,000 pro-EU demonstrators continue their protest against President Yanukovych in Independence Square. US Senator, John McCain addressed the demonstrators pledging US support for their cause saying, ""America stands with you. We are here because your peaceful process and peaceful protest is inspiring your country and inspiring the world."
US Foreign Policy Senators John McCain and Chris Murphy visit Kyiv. Senator McCain addressed the demonstrators sayings, “We are here to support your just cause: the sovereign right to determine [Ukraine’s] own destiny freely and independently. And the destiny you seek lies in Europe.” Also on Friday, senators issued a resolution calling for the United States to consider sanctions in case there is further violence against peaceful demonstrators.
Russian President Putin offered to buy $15 billion-worth of Ukrainian bonds through a Russian emergency fund and promised to cut the price of Russian natural gas by one-third. Russia supplies nearly 60 percent of Ukraine’s natural gas. Ukraine is estimated to save $7 billion every year because of Russia's new price for gas for Ukraine Prime Minister Azarov called the deal "historic" and said it would give Ukraine economic and financial stability. Azarov said without the package, Ukraine faced "bankruptcy and social collapse." Pro-EU protestors vowed to continue protesting and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said ties with Russia should not prevent Ukraine from looking West.
We'd love to hear from you. Please send questions or feedback to the below email addresses.
Before contacting us, you may wish to visit our FAQs page which has lots of useful info on Tiki-Toki.
We can be contacted by email at: hello@tiki-toki.com.
You can also follow us on twitter at twitter.com/tiki_toki.
If you are having any problems with Tiki-Toki, please contact us as at: help@tiki-toki.com
Close