Liberty or Death: Politicians fail to reach compromise

Moreover, the two sides presented very different account of events. Justice Minister Olena Lukash, who was on the president’s team, rushed to release a statement bemoaning that leaders of the opposition “refused to condemn extremist actions.” She said more negotiations are needed.

Leaders of the opposition said that President Viktor Yanukovych promised a ceasefire if the other side agrees to observe it also and to release all detainees within three days. Leader of Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform Vitali Klitschko did not sound convinced that even those limited promises will be observed, however.

“I hope they keep the promises,” he said.

Leader of Svoboda Oleh Tiahnybok said that the government confessed they planned to detain some 500 activists in the next three days, and some 1,000 activists in the next five days, but promised to halt the plan.

Tiahnybok said the opposition will consider the deal valid once General Prosecutor Viktor Pshonka publishes a statement on his agency’s site annulling detentions of activists. Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko is also obliged to publish a statement with a pledge to stop chasing activists.

Despite the opposition’s best effort to sell the deal to the crowd, the overwhelming reaction on EuroMaidan was frustration. “Lies, lies,” people shouted as Tiahnybok spoke on Hrushevskoho Street before he gave a speech on Independence Square.

The crowd’s main demands, resignation Yanukovych and the government, were unacceptable for the president. In fact, Klitschko admitted that “very little” was achieved.

Tiahnybok said opposition leaders wanted approval of a number of laws, including changes in election legislation and a return to the version of the Constitution adopted in 2004 that cut presidential powers and strengthened the Cabinet. He later returned to protesters on Hrushevskoho Street and warned them of repression ahead and told journalists he thinks the opposition should have agreed to the deal.

Yatseniuk, who came to the stage late, told the crowd to build new barricades to increase the territory of EuroMaidan, but offered no real solution out of the crisis.