STRASBOURG
Secretary General of the European Council Thorbjorn Jagland is leaving for Ukraine together with some party leaders in a bid to lower the high running tensions in the country after President Victor Yanukovic’s decision of not signing a partnership and free trade agreement with the EU.
Jagland called for calm, adding that the European Council is concerned about the violence sparked in member state Ukraine and a peaceful dialogue should be used by all sides.
Meanwhile, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius has invited opposition leader Vitali Klitsheko to Paris, according to a French radio channel.
Protesters took to the streets following President Yanukovic’s refusal to sign a deal that many people see as the start of a path to the European Union membership. Clashes between Ukrainian security forces and demonstrators continued on Tuesday.
