News.Kyiv.Me.

West condemns Ukraine violence while Moscow blames West

By The Associated Press on February 19, 2014.

Anti-government protesters carry a wounded policemen during clashes with riot police in Kyiv’s Independence Square, the epicenter of the country’s current unrest, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. Thousands of angry anti-government protesters clashed with police in a new eruption of violence following new maneuvering by Russia and the European Union to gain influence over this former Soviet republic. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

BRUSSELS – The deadly clashes in Ukraine’s capital that led to at least 25 deaths has drawn sharp reactions from Washington, generated talk of possible European Union sanctions and led to a Kremlin statement blaming Europe and the West. A roundup of some of the international reactions:

RUSSIA

The Russian Foreign Ministry blamed the West for the escalation of violence and called on the Ukrainian opposition to work with the government to find a way out of the crisis. “What is happening is a direct result of the conniving politics of Western politicians and European bodies,” the ministry said in a statement.

CANADA

Canada has “unequivocally” condemned the violence in Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Tuesday that Ottawa will be providing further assistance to make medical care available for Ukrainian activists. Baird said a contribution will be made to a Ukrainian non-governmental organization. A handful of anti-government protesters have taken shelter inside the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv.

UNITED STATES

U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden called Ukraine’s president to express “grave concern” and to request the pullback of government forces and the exercise of maximum restraint. The White House said Biden made clear that while the United States condemns violence by all parties, the government bears “special responsibility to de-escalate the situation.” Biden also called on Ukraine’s government to address the protesters” ”legitimate grievances” and put forward proposals for political reform.

GERMANY

Germany’s leaders had refused to back Washington’s calls for sanctions against Ukraine’s government to pressure it into accepting opposition demands for reforms. But after Tuesday’s explosion of violence, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany and its 27 EU partner countries might resort to unspecified sanctions against individuals. “Whoever is responsible for decisions that lead to bloodshed in the centre of Kyiv or elsewhere in Ukraine will need to consider that Europe’s previous reluctance for personal sanctions must be rethought,” he said.

UNITED NATIONS

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed shock at the “unacceptable” violence and called for “the immediate renewal of genuine dialogue leading to rapid results,” UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said. “Preventing further instability and bloodshed is a paramount priority.”

SWEDEN

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said in a Twitter post on Wednesday: “We must be clear: Ultimate responsibility for deaths and violence is with President Yanukovich. He has blood on his hands.”

DENMARK

“The Ukrainian government must take responsibility to immediately enter a serious dialogue with the opposition on the need for constitutional amendments, a new broad-based government and the preparation of democratic and fair presidential elections,” Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said.

—

– With files from The Canadian Press.

You must be logged in to post a comment.