Ashton says Ukraine could sign EU deal

The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has revealed that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych intends to sign a deal for association with the EU after all.

Ashton was positive that Yanukovych had assured her he intends to sign the deal, when the two met in Kiev earlier this week.

She was in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday, in an attempt to mediate the political crisis in the country.

Ashton also urged the authorities to refrain from using force against peaceful demonstrators.