Ukraine still committed to sign EU agreement, EU top official says

Catherine Ashton, the EU's top foreign policy official has said that Ukraine still intends to sign an association agreement with the EU.

The announcement comes in light of the US considering sanctions towards the Ukrainian government over the crackdown of protests that have paralysed the Eastern European country in recent weeks.

"[Viktor]Yanukovych made it clear to me that he intends to sign the association agreement," said Ashton in Brussels.

Crowds have gathered there in protest against Yanukovych's not to sign a EU trade agreement and instead turn towards Russia for financial help.

Police has since attempted to dislodge anti-government demonstrators from the capital. Thousands of riot police moved in on Independence Square on Wednesday to remove barricades erected by protesters.

Though there were fierce struggles, the violence was isolated and the Ukrainian government said its main goal was to remove roadblocks rather than attack protesters. Nevertheless, the move drew dismay from across the globe.

The US Defense Minister Chuck Hagel warned Ukraine not to use its army against civilians, citing consequential damage.

"All policy options, including sanctions, are on the table, in our view, but obviously that still is being evaluated," said the US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Many European politicians have made a point of showing solidarity with the protesters, some of them speaking from the stage on Independence Square. Others have vocally backed the protesters online. The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, called the clashes "repression versus reform; power versus people".

Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed America's disgust at the government's manoeuvers to meet the protests with riot police, bulldozers, and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity.

"The response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy," he said.

After securing the square on Wednesday morning, the police then retreated from the streets, and aborted an attempt to regain control of city hall, occupied by protesters. The barricades were promptly rebuilt, twice as high, and up to 20,000 people spent Wednesday night at the square with not a police officer in sight.