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Protesters clash with riot policemen outside the Ukrainian President's office in Kyiv.
Protesters clash with riot policemen outside the Ukrainian President's office in Kyiv.

Live Blog: Protests In Ukraine

Opposition leaders have called for massive protests and a general strike to challenge Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union.

Wednesday -- Barring major events, we will be providing more limited updates on the live blog today.

Long term protest strategy appears to be setting in. Protesters marching to various government buildings, including the central bank and the prosecutor general's office. In Independence Square, meanwhile, the barricades are continuing to grow and thousands still remain.

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Tuesday wrap-up (final post for the evening)

-- Early in the day, the Ukrainian parliament voted against holding a vote of no confidence in the government. They needed 226 votes, but only came up with 186.

-- Angry crowds chanted "shame" outside the parliament. By late afternoon, Independence Square had swelled to at least 10,000 protesters again and the leaders of the three main opposition parties led a crowd of thousands to the presidential administration building. Most, including the opposition leaders returned to Independence Square.

-- Ukrainian Prime Minister Azarov, who survived a potential no-confidence vote this morning, apologized for violence against protesters, but also harshly condemned the continuing demonstrations and the occupation of government buildings. He said the actions are "unconstitutional" and "illegal."

-- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has arrived in China to begin a three day visit, which will be followed by a trip to Russia. Still, he has promised he remains committed to EU integration.

-- Until late November, Yanukovych had said he intended to sign a pact with Europe, but backed out after pressure from Moscow. He also refused to allow former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to leave prison for medical care in Germany -- a key European demand.

-- The encampment in Independence Square remains, with barricades meant to protect it from riot police continuing to grow and crowds of protesters camping out overnight. The city administration building and the trade union building are still occupied.

Glenn Kates

13:15 3.12.2013
Klitschko heads the Udar party and Yatsenyuk leads Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland party.



13:28 3.12.2013
Protesters returning to the presidential administration building. There are reports that they plan to stay there until the government agrees to hold early elections.

13:37 3.12.2013
14:07 3.12.2013
Via Daisy Sindelar:

Will they? Won't they? Iryna Vannykova, press secretary to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, today posted this intriguing picture on Facebook. She strongly hints the three former presidents -- Leonid Kravchuk, Yushchenko, and Leonid Kuchma -- are signing a joint statement supporting the call for European integration. The text of the statement has yet to be released.

14:25 3.12.2013
15:34 3.12.2013
Live Google + Hangout now with Maryana Drach, who is covering events in Kyiv, and Oleh Rybachuk, a former Deputy Prime Minister, civil-society activist, and expert on Euro-Atlantic integration. They are joined in Prague by RFE/RL Europe Desk Editor Brian Whitmore and Natalya Churikova, from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.


15:40 3.12.2013
15:58 3.12.2013
Rows of riot police buses near the presidential administration building.

16:37 3.12.2013
Tom Balmforth, our Moscow correspondent, will be in Kyiv for the next few days.

16:58 3.12.2013
Earlier in the day, supporters of Yanukovych also held a rally outside of parliament.

The speaker in the video says in Russian:

"We categorically oppose any actions that tear apart our country. And for that reason we're here to support the president of the people -- Viktor Yanukovych."

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