Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych Monday called European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to discuss developments in Ukraine following big demonstrations in Kiev to protest refusal by the Kiev government to sign an agreement for closer ties with the EU.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will seek a delicate balance between calming military tensions with China and backing ally Japan against Beijing on a trip to Asia this week that is being overshadowed by a territorial row in the East China Sea.

The Ukrainian parliament rejected a motion to hold a vote of confidence in the government on Tuesday, following massive pro-EU protests calling for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovich and his government.