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Protesters clash with riot policemen outside the Ukrainian President's office in Kyiv.
Protesters clash with riot policemen outside the Ukrainian President's office in Kyiv.

Live Blog: Protests In Ukraine

Opposition leaders have called for massive protests and a general strike to challenge Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union.

Wednesday -- Barring major events, we will be providing more limited updates on the live blog today.

Long term protest strategy appears to be setting in. Protesters marching to various government buildings, including the central bank and the prosecutor general's office. In Independence Square, meanwhile, the barricades are continuing to grow and thousands still remain.

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Tuesday wrap-up (final post for the evening)

-- Early in the day, the Ukrainian parliament voted against holding a vote of no confidence in the government. They needed 226 votes, but only came up with 186.

-- Angry crowds chanted "shame" outside the parliament. By late afternoon, Independence Square had swelled to at least 10,000 protesters again and the leaders of the three main opposition parties led a crowd of thousands to the presidential administration building. Most, including the opposition leaders returned to Independence Square.

-- Ukrainian Prime Minister Azarov, who survived a potential no-confidence vote this morning, apologized for violence against protesters, but also harshly condemned the continuing demonstrations and the occupation of government buildings. He said the actions are "unconstitutional" and "illegal."

-- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has arrived in China to begin a three day visit, which will be followed by a trip to Russia. Still, he has promised he remains committed to EU integration.

-- Until late November, Yanukovych had said he intended to sign a pact with Europe, but backed out after pressure from Moscow. He also refused to allow former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to leave prison for medical care in Germany -- a key European demand.

-- The encampment in Independence Square remains, with barricades meant to protect it from riot police continuing to grow and crowds of protesters camping out overnight. The city administration building and the trade union building are still occupied.

Glenn Kates

13:05 2.12.2013
13:15 2.12.2013
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine speaking on public TV right now.

He says policy continues to be engagement.

"I can't predict what the future will bring, but our policy for now is active engagement, but we hope that President Yanukovych and his government will respond constructively to that as we seek [to encourage a government] that is part of Europe."

Calls for serious investigation of November 30 events that holds those responsible accountable. "What happened Saturday cannot be swept under the carpet," he says.

A second objective is to sign the Association Agreement, satisfying the conditions Europe has established "and get back on the positive trajectory that we saw up until a couple weeks ago."

Yanukovych has the opportunity to make clear now "the direction he wants to travel." It's been made very clear over the past few days which direction a large segment of the country wants to move, he says.
13:56 2.12.2013
Eleven people have been detained after a picket in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow. According to the OvdInfo.org website, protesters were holding signs reading, "Ukraine we are with you."

13:58 2.12.2013
14:01 2.12.2013
As mentioned earlier, a group of Ukrainian women approached riot police in front of the presidential compound and painted blue and yellow hearts on their defensive shields. In the video of the demonstration below, the police appear rather smitten.

14:58 2.12.2013
Vadim Kolesnichenko, a Party of Regions deputy, known for his efforts to make Russian an official language, along with Ukrainian, came to the city administration building today -- apparently in an attempt to speak with protesters. It did not go over well.

Protesters shout "ganba" -- shame.

15:10 2.12.2013
Yanukovych asks European Commission to "receive a delegation from Ukraine to have a discussion on some aspects of the Association and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area."

15:19 2.12.2013
Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland party taking donations to support protesters in Independence Square, according to the party's website.
15:37 2.12.2013
Via our Ukrainian Service:

The Kyiv Regional Council, led by the Party of Regions, has condemned the use of violence by police during protests and has proposed the establishment of a working group to assess the situation in the country.

"We respect everyone's right to peaceful assembly guaranteed in the Constitution, yet condemn the escalation of lawlessness and violence during the protests, including the use of force by police officers and the beating of journalists," said Anatoliy Prysiazhnyuk, head of the Kyiv Regional Administration.
15:50 2.12.2013
Workday over, crowds packing in to Independence Square for another night.

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