Eurasia Press & News

European Union has taken a decision to impose restrictions on the issuance of travel visas to the Ukrainian officials, whom it deems responsible for the use of violence in Ukraine, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending an envoy to Ukraine at the request of President Viktor Yanukovich, to try to mediate talks between the government and opposition, Russian news agencies said on Thursday.

The head of Kiev’s city administration quit the party of President Viktor Yanukovich on Thursday in protest at the bloodshed on the streets of the Ukrainian capital – a sign the head of state may be losing support.

At least 67 people have been killed in two waves of violence between protesters and riot police that first broke out on Tuesday, Kiev city authorities said.

Serbia is open “to all modes of cooperation with friendly countries,” Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić said in Belgrade on Monday during talks with Azerbaijan’s defense minister, Lieutenant-General Zakir Hasanov.

Azerbaijani, Turkish and Georgian foreign ministers are holding one-on-one meetings in Ganja, said spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton is calling an emergency meeting of foreign ministers over the rapid deterioration of the situation in Kiev. The information about the emergency sitting was confirmed by Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

The European Union is expected to urgently agree sanctions against those responsible for the violence in Ukraine, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso confirmed.

In the wake of severe violence in several parts of Ukraine on Tuesday, when at least 25 people died, France is gearing up to ask for European Union sanctions against authorities in Ukraine, probably the President and security-

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has expressed “grave concern” over escalation in violence in Kiev and called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to pull back security forces and exercise maximum restraint.