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Yanukovich defies protesters to meet Putin
The Ukrainian and Russian presidents hold surprise talks on a "strategic partnership treaty" a week after Ukraine shelved a key deal with the EU.
Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's president, paid a visit to Vladimir Putin Friday afternoon, in a move likely to stoke protests against his government, with opposition forces calling for a million-strong march through Kiev on Sunday.
Despite calling off the offcial state visit to Malta, Yanukovych had a "short, working meeting" with Putin at the Russian leader's residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Yanukovych was returning to Ukraine from a visit to China, which went ahead despite the protest movement gripping Ukraine.
The capital has been paralysed for a week as protesters have occupied government buildings in the city centre and barricaded Independence Square, the hub of the 2004 Orange Revolution.
The protests were sparked by Yanukovych's decision to suspend work on an integration agreement with the EU, due to be signed last week, in favour of improving relations with Russia.
Jailed opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko has reportedly called off a prison hunger strike.
The former prime minister's daughter, Eugenia, said her mother had accepted a request from protesters in Kiev to stop the fast.
She had reportedly begun the hunger strike on 25 November in protest at Yanukovych's failure to sign the EU deal.
Tymoshenko, who led the 2004 Orange Revolution but was sentenced to seven years in jail for exceeding her authority as prime minister - in a court case seen as personal revenge from Yanukovych against his arch-rival - called on protesters not to give up.
"The people of Ukraine need to urgently take power into their own hands and not make sweet talk with a dictator," said Tymoshenko in a statement released from her guarded hospital bed. "Win now or be prepared for absolute dictatorship for years to come."
In Lviv, a western Ukrainian city where support for European integration is almost unanimous, in contrast to the Russian-speaking eastern part of the country, thousands of residents plan to travel to Kiev on a convoy of buses to take part in the weekend protest rallies.
