Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych says he is prepared to hold early presidential and parliamentary elections in the country if no other solution can be found to the ongoing political crisis, his political ally has said.
The country's government resigned last week, and demonstrators who have occupied the center of Kiev since November are demanding the resignation of Yanukovych.
"The president said: 'If we politicians can't reach an agreement now … then the only democratic way of resolving the situation is early elections,'" Yuri Miroshnichenko, a lawmaker from Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, told Ukrainian television channel ICTV.
Miroshnichenko said the president has ruled out the use of force to liberate Independence Square, the heart of the mass anti-government protests where barricades have been erected and a protest camp set up.
"I will never do that, because these are also our citizens," Miroshnichenko quoted Yanukovych as saying.
Following the Cabinet's resignation last week, Yanukovych went on sick leave for what the presidential website said was an acute respiratory illness, prompting the country's opposition to accuse him of inaction amid the ongoing political crisis. He returned to work Monday.
The demonstrations were sparked in November by Yanukovych's last-minute decision to back off from signing landmark trade deals with the EU. The protest movement has since transformed into a loose coalition of opposition groups seeking the president's ouster.
The largely peaceful demonstrations in Kiev spilled over into violence last month, and up to five people have been killed.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
