West, Russia move to ease Ukraine tensions

A woman cries as she stays on Kiev's Independence Square, yesterday. Photo: AFP

Western diplomats scrambled yesterday to stave off an economic collapse in Ukraine, as Russia pledged not to intervene in the crisis-hit country after the dramatic ouster of pro-Moscow leader Viktor Yanukovych.
The bloc's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton travelled to Kiev and met with temporary, pro-West leader Oleksandr Turchynov as well as members of parliament, which called on the International Criminal Court in The Hague to prosecute Yanukovych.
Her trip is just the public tip of furious closed-door talks taking place between US, European and Russian diplomats over a country that has appealed for $35 billion in aid to avoid bankruptcy and which according to Turchynov is facing a secessionist threat.

Maidan self-defence activists guard at the Ukraine parliament during the session in Kiev. While Ukraine's opposition-dominated parliament yesterday delayed the highly-anticipated formation of a new government until tomorrow, it voted to apply to the International Criminal Court to prosecute Yanukovych over the "mass murder" of protesters. Photo: AFP

"We offer support, not interference for the future," Ashton told reporters in Kiev amid fears Ukraine's pro-Russia east could agitate for partition after a pro-Western administration took charge of the country following months of protests.She also stressed "the importance of the strong links between Ukraine and Russia and the importance of having them maintained."
Russia had initially reacted with fury to the weekend's rapid-fire political changes -- brought about by deadly clashes in Kiev last week that left nearly 100 dead -- accusing the new leadership of waging an "armed mutiny".
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday sought to soften the tone, saying Ukraine should not be forced to choose between Russia and the West.
"We confirmed our principled position of non-intervention in Ukraine's internal affairs," Lavrov said  adding "we are interested in Ukraine being part of the European family, in all senses of the word".
The tumultuous events of the past week have capped more than three months of relentless protests against Yanukovych's rule sparked by his November decision to spurn an historic pact with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Vitali Klitschko, a heavyweight world champion boxer who became one of the three major protest leaders, yesterday announced he would stand for president in polls set for May 25, shortly after the electoral commission officially kicked off the campaign for elections.
Candidates have until March 30 to put their names forward, and so far, only the pro-Russia governor of Kharkiv, a region in the east, has also announced his candidacy.