Kiev protesters urge Ukraine to sign EU deal

Ukraine continues to be the hot topic as the EU’s Eastern Partnership summit gets underway in the city of Vilnius.

In Kyiv, thousands of Ukrainians continue to protest against the government’s decision to hold off on signing a deal with the EU, with some keeping a round-the-clock vigil.

President Viktor Yanukovich claims he cannot afford to turn his back on Moscow but the protesters would rather look to the West for support.

Even Ukraine’s stars turned out to support the demonatration.

“There is something in my heart I wanted to express to the people,” said Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, lead singer of Okean Elzy continuing, “I am very grateful to them – for their really European position. Because this unification we can see here is very European.”

Ukraine continues to be the hot topic as the EU’s Eastern Partnership summit gets underway in the city of Vilnius.

Ukraine was expected to sign an Association Agreement with the EU in the Lithuanian capital during the summit. However, last week Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych put a hold on the deal.

If the summit concludes with no sign of a signature, the protests could escalate.

In 2004 protesters forced a vote recount against Yanukovich during the Orange Revolution.