Scores of Ukrainian anti-government protesters ended a two-month occupation of Kyiv City Hall on Sunday to meet an amnesty offer aimed at easing a stand-off over President Viktor Yanukovich’s rule.<br /><br />Ukrainian authorities have agreed to drop criminal charges against activists if public buildings are cleared of protesters by Monday.<br /><br />Volodymyr Makeyenko, head of Kyiv City State Administration, told euronews:<br />“Every day of talks saved lives and there were no more people wounded. We negotiated as much as was necessary to normalise the situation. I think peace and stability began in Ukraine today. And we will do everything to continue that.” <br /><br />Many protesters are unhappy, though, and have threatened to return to municipal buildings if authorities do not carry out their amnesty promise. <br /><br />One unnamed protester explained why: “We have not achieved what we wanted. A lot of people died. Many people have disappeared. People have been released but not completely: house arrest is also a form of detention.”<br /><br />Jon Elvedal Fredriksen, the Norwegian ambassador to Ukraine, was in Kyiv to help transfer control of City Hall back to the authorities.<br /><br />“I think there is a deep concern in Europe, and there is a deep concern in the international community for what we have seen here in Kyiv,” he said. “And I am quite sure that goodwill is there to be helpful for the current situation as far as this is possible,” continued Fredriksen.<br /><br />Sergio Cantone, euronews correspondent in Kyiv, reported: <br /><br />“Small diplomatic steps may lead to a major political agreement. The Ukrainian crisis escalated from a national level to an international one. <br /><br />“The international community is trying to resolve the crisis. But the solution lies within parliament and how the future government is formed.”
