After a day of diplomatic and economic maneuvering between Russia and the West for Ukraine’s future, protesters and police resumed clashes after a nearly monthlong lull.
The fighting broke out on streets near the Parliament building a day
after Russia threw a new financial lifeline to the government of
Yanukovych by buying $2 billion in Ukrainian
government bonds. The Russian aid signaled confidence from the Kremlin that important
votes in Parliament expected this week to amend the Constitution and
form a new cabinet will go in Russia’s favor.
The Russian aid also highlighted the absence of any clear promise of
financial aid from the European Union or the United States, which have
supported the opposition in Ukraine. Russia’s finance minister announced
the resumption of lending on Monday. Russia had earlier frozen the aid because of political disarray in Kyiv.
