Pro-European Union Ukrainians rally in Kiev

(Vatican Radio)As many as half a million pro-European Union Ukrainians have rallied in the capital Kiev Sunday for a massive protest aimed at forcing President Viktor Yanukovych and the government to resign after rejecting an EU trade deal under pressure from neighboring Russia. During the protests an angry crowd also toppled a statue of late Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.

Waving EU and Ukrainian flags thousands of demonstrators gathered at Kyiv's iconic Independence Square, watched by European parliamentarians.


It's the same location where nine years ago Ukraine's pro-freedom Orange Revolution began.


Ukranians demand the resignation of what they view as the autocratic President Victor Yanukovich and the government after they refused to sign the European Union Association Agreement.


Demonstrators are concerned about a possible imminent Customs Union between Ukraine and neighboring Russia. Ukrainian President Yanukovich and Russia's Vladimir Putin have denied discussing an economic marriage.


Yet protesters remain suspicious. They aren''t alone. European Parliamentarians from Poland, Germany and Spain have visited Kyiv to show their support for the pro-EU rallies.

Polish member of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, a former prime minister, said he hopes their presence will restrain Ukrainian authorities from using more violence against demonstrators.


"We would also try to avoid any violence in the future and the brutal attack of peaceful demonstrators," Buzek told reports. "I believe our presence here could also support this specific point,” he added.


Jailed Ukrainian former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko remains concerned however. She said in a statement read by her daughter that the opposition was demanding the "immediate" resignation of President Yanukovych as he "took a decision to join the club of dictators" and that he must answer every drop of blood that has been shed.


She urged protesters to in her words "peacefully and legally oust him from power." Demonstrators also demanded more freedom of expression in this former Soviet nation as some 40 journalists were reportedly injured in attacks by riot police last week. Listen to this report by Stefan Bos