Ukraine's president announces peace deal with opposition following violent clashes

Following all-night talks mediated by three EU foreign ministers, Ukraine’s president announced a deal to end the crisis.

14:39 20 February 2014

Ukraine’s President Victor Yanukovych has announced that peace deals have been reached with the opposition to end violent crashes.

However, a French foreign minister said that the deal was not definitive and that the opposition is yet to confirm the president’s claim. "The opposition in particular wants to be able to consult with some of its members, which is completely understandable," he said.

Following the announcement, more violence was reported in central Kiev where protesters and police engaged in a stand-off. Dozens have been killed in violent clashes in the past few weeks.

The police confirmed trading gunfire with the protesters while Ukrainian media said that riot police were patrolling inside the parliament during a session.

The protests started in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.

Since the protests, there were already 77 people who were killed and another 577 were injured.