Clashes in Kiev Resumed, EU Talks Canceled

An anti-government protester carries a table to build a barricade as riot policemen fire live bullets on protesters on Independence Square in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, 20 February 2014. Photo by EPA/ALEXEY FURMAN.

Clashes between anti-government protesters and police in Kiev have been resumed Thursday, despite the truce agreed between the Ukrainian president and opposition leaders.

Protesters are throwing petrol bombs, while police are using water cannon, the BBC news reports.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his counterparts from France and Poland, Laurent Fabius and Radoslaw Sikorski, were expected to meet President Yanukovych and other government officials on Thursday morning for talks prior to an EU meeting to discuss possible sanctions against the Ukrainian regime, for its excessive use of violence.

However, European foreign ministers' meeting with Ukraine's president was canceled, French Embassy announced. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that the talks will be moved to another location, due to the latest clashes near the presidential palace in Kiev.

Ukraine's health ministry has reported that 28 people were killed and 287 have been injured this week.

Fires burned at the main protest camp, the Maidan, through the night. Two armored vehicles have been seen in the street leading towards the square, the BBC informs.

Thursday has been declared a day of mourning for the dead.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Olympic alpine skier Bohdana Matsotska and her father stated that they no longer will represent their nation's team in the Sochi Winter Games over the bloody events on EuroMaidan and blamed President Viktor Yanukovych for bloodshed, Kyiv post reports.

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