The Wire

Tension is on the rise in Ukraine as protesters are being cleared off from the centre of the capital, Kiev. The protest movement, that’s become known as Euromaidan, has been on rise since late November when the Ukrainian government postponed the signing of a free trade agreement with the European Union. Ukraine is at a crossroads in its economic development where it has to choose between tightening economic connections with either Russia or the EU. Ukrainians demanding Europe-oriented transformation, occupied the central square of Kiev which resulted in the clashes with the police, and yesterday, the toppling of a Lenin statue. Now, with the riot police deployed to clear protesters from the square, tensions are coming to a head.