Russia Calls on West Not to Pressure Ukraine

Russia's Parliament has adopted a resolution calling western powers not to apply pressure on Ukraine's decision whether to sign an Association Agreement with the EU.

According to Russian MPs, this decision legitimately depends only on Ukraine's sovereign choice.

The Russian Parliament has also called political actors in Ukraine to end confrontation and to seek a consensus regarding their country's future.

"The State Duma calls on all polical forces in Ukraine to find a solution from the present situation through peaceful means only, in the interests of the Ukrainian people," says the declaration.

Russian MPs in particular addressed the Ukrainian opposition, calling them to "return into the constitutional framework" and seek dialogue with the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Since the cabinet's end of November decision to postpone signing an Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine has been gripped with massive pro-EU rallies, asking for a resignation of the government.

Tuesday President Yanukovich brought predecessors at a round table, at which was revealed that Ukraine will continue negotiations on the agreement with the EU.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland both flew to Kiev to talk to political actors and try to facilitate internal consensus in an increasingly confrontational political and social situation.