The barriers have gone up again in Independence Square in Kyiv with the protesters defiant in the teeth of a bitter chill. Diplomatic relations too are plummeting towards a deep freeze.<br /><br />The US State department has warned it is considering economic action against Ukraine. “All policy options are on the table including sanctions” a spokeswoman said but was not specific on what kind.<br /><br />There was hint of a thaw in the political stand-off with an offer of talks with the opposition from president Viktor Yanukovych<br /><br />“To reach a compromise I’m calling on the opposition not to refuse, not to go along the path of the stand-off and ultimatums. I am assuring you that the authorities will act only within the framework of the law and will never use force against peaceful gatherings,” he said.<br /><br />The offer was rejected with Arseny Yatsenyuk a leader of a major opposition party said there should only be talks once their demands including the government’s resignation had been met.<br /><br />One protester said “You can expect anything from him. He says one thing and he does totally another thing. So you can see day and night politics.”<br /><br />As the protesters settled in the interior minister promised the square would not be stormed as it had been on Tuesday night. <br /><br />That was action which led Vitaly Klitschko one of the main figures of the opposition to say it had “closed off the path to compromise”.
