Kyiv, 5 February 2014
Yatseniuk declared readiness to chair Ukraine’s government upon conditions. One of the leaders of Ukraine’s opposition, Arseniy Yatseniuk, declared readiness to take the helm of Ukraine’s government. However, as the precondition for such a step Yatseniuk considers the need for the cabinet to be formed only by Verkhovna Rada and be fully made up of opposition representatives. At the same time, the politician doubts country’s President Yanukovych is ready for such a compromise which will lead to the loss of his powers.
Klitschko calls for constitutional changes or early elections. The leader of opposition party UDAR Vitaliy Klitschko says that the return to the constitution of 2004 could be one of the viable mechanisms of overcoming the crisis in Ukraine. The constitutional reform, moreover, could ease tensions in the society, he added. However, if authorities do not agree on such a step, the early presidential elections can significantly contribute to paving the way for political solution to the crisis, Klitschko stressed.
Klitchko: Europe is ready to mediate Ukrainian crisis talks but this depends on Yanukovych. Segodnia.ua quotes Vitaliy Klitchko, an opposition leader, saying that the EU is ready to provide its mediators to facilitate government-opposition crisis talks. This, however, depends on the President Yanukovych, the opposition leader underlined, adding that European observers would not take decisions instead of Ukrainians.
Poroshenko: EU is ready to provide Ukraine with economic assistance. Following his meeting with Catherine Ashton, EU HR/VP, Petro Poroshenko, an opposition leader, noted that the EU is ready to provide Ukraine with economic help and to assist the country in conducting necessary reforms. The EU seeks to stabilize Ukrainian crisis, Poroshenko stressed, adding that Brussels dedicated the whole current week to Ukraine.
Parliament refused from holding plenary sessions all February long. Verkhovna Rada, Ukrainian Parliament, failed to approve a schedule of its new session launched on 4 February. Neither governments-loyal nor opposition MPs succeeded to pass its version of the schedule. The Party of the Regions (PoR) proposed to work according to a schedule developed in November while opposition backed an idea to hold parliamentary session all February long to settle the ongoing political crisis. Both propositions did not receive necessary 226 votes in favour.
Biden urged Yanukovych to pull back riot police and to release detained protestors. In his fourth telephone call with President Yanukovych, US Vice President Biden urged Ukrainian leader to take advantage of every opportunity aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis. This includes pulling back of riot police, releasing detained protestors, and establishing accountability for those responsible for beatings and attacks on journalists and protesters. Joe Biden also emphasized that the only viable path to peace and stability in Ukraine is through continued dialogue and genuine compromise to form a new government that can earn confidence of the Ukrainian people.
Ashton’s spokesperson: EU does not have a concrete aid package for Ukraine. According to Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, EU HR/VP, the EU does not have a concrete plan of financial aid to Ukraine, RBK-Ukraina reported. The EU’s chief diplomat reiterated the necessity to hold dialogue, adding that previous conditions set by the IMF to Ukraine remain valid. The EU, however, considers financial support for Ukraine during the crisis, the spokesperson underlined.
Füle: de-escalation and stabilization of the situation is now the main priority. In his speech at the European Parliament, Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and ENP, stressed that de-escalation and stabilization of the situation is now the main priority. A new Ukrainian government, regardless of its composition, will need to enjoy sufficient trust by all sides, the Commissioner underlined, adding that discussions on the constitution are of particular importance and time is of the essence in that respect. “We are ready to support the process with expertise and advice.” Füle, moreover, noted that conditions for free and fair presidential elections of 2015 would need to be put in place. The European Union stands ready to assist all sides in advancing such a political track. In case of a positive scenario, we will be ready to extend our assistance, based on a genuine commitment to political and economic reforms, in cooperation with the IMF and other international actors, the Commissioner added.
Füle called on opposition to dissociate themselves from radical elements. Speaking at the European Parliament, Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and ENP, called on opposition and protestors to dissociate themselves from radical elements, pointing to evacuation of previously occupied ministry of justice and ministry of agriculture as a right move. The authorities from their side are responsible for respecting and protecting the freedoms of speech, assembly and media, the Commissioner continued. “So far, too little has been done to this end: peaceful protestors continue to be detained, often injured, and sometimes straight out of hospitals. Kidnappings and tortures by unknown perpetrators continue unpunished,” Füle, emphasized.
Putin’s spokesperson: Putin will meet Yanukovych in Sochi. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President will talk to his Ukrainian counterpart Victor Yanukovych as well as to many other leaders in Sochi, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson of Vladimir Putin, said. The spokesperson did not specify the format of the meeting, the web site added.
Austrian embassy: Azarov, Arbuzov and Klyuyev don’t have Austrian citizenship. Austrian embassy to Ukraine disproved information previously widely reported by Ukrainian media on Austrian citizenship of Mykola Azarov, Ukraine’s former Prime Minister, Serhiy Arbuzov, Ukraine’s acting Prime Minister, and Andriy Klyuyev, head of Presidential Administration. This information has not been confirmed the embassy wrote.
Internews.ua
