Ukrainian anti-government protesters stood their ground in Kyiv’s Independence Square on Thursday. They rebuilt barricades after the police tried to clear the area the previous day.<br /><br />They have been protesting for more than two weeks after President Viktor Yanukovych rejected an EU trade deal in favour of closer ties with Russia.<br /><br />One of the protesters, Sergei, told euronews:“In Moscow, they think that what is happening here is anti-Russian. In Europe they think that what we are fighting for is pro-European. As a matter of fact, our actions are against the bandits (of the Ukrainian government). Most of the protesters who can be seen here are demonstrating for themselves.”<br /><br />Meanwhile the EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has said that Yanukovych “intends to sign” the EU trade and cooperation agreement, which would be an about-face for the president.<br /><br />However, Yanukovych will meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin at bilateral interstate commission session scheduled for December 17 in Moscow. Protesters fear he will sign an agreement with Russia at that meeting. <br /><br />They have vowed to stay in Independence Square braving the cold, and the police, until this political tug-of-war is resolved to their satisfaction.
