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The latest breaking news from Ukraine in English

​Ukrainian crisis: December 18th

The protest at Kyiv's Independence Square continues for the fourth week.

​Ukrainian crisis: December 18th
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Фото: Макс Левин

LB.ua chronicles the latest events in Ukraine in English for foreign readers.

8:12. Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt says he believes that the loans agreed by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovich in Moscow yesterday will slow down economic reforms in Ukraine.

8:39. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not Ukraine's benefactor, and Moscow is trying to keep Ukraine from joining the European Union through the provision of loans and discounts on gas, said U.S. Republican Senator John McCain who appeared on the Maidan last weekend.

9:06. The US House of Representatives may adopt sanctions against members of the Ukrainian authorities, who authorized the use of force against demonstrators on the 30th of November.

9:29. At least 11 criminal cases remain opened against the Maidan activists.

9:48. The Maidan protesters are getting ready to picket the General Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Ministry for Social Policy in Kyiv.

10:01. The opposition lawmakers blocked the rostrum and presidium of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

10:10. The Verkhovna Rada Speaker Vladymyr Rybak opened and immediately closed the plenary session of the parliament.

10:44. Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov says that without dealing with Russian President Vladimir Ukraine would be on the edge of collapse. He also underlined that currently there is no threat to the economic stability of Ukraine.

11:05. The Belarusian authorities banned a march in support of Euromaidan in Brest.

11:29. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she regrets Viktor Yanukovich's decision to postpone the signing of Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, but "the proposal is still valid".

12:58. Ukrainians in London in sign of solidarity with the protesters in Kyiv is picketing the building in the centre of London, where the company of Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov had bought the most expensive apartment in Britain.

13:00. A column of 1.5 thousand Maidan protesters, headed by a deputy from the opposition faction "Batkivshchyna" is picketing Federal Ministry for Social Policy in Kyiv. They demand the increase of salaries and social payments as the Ukrainian government previously promised.

14:21. The Maidan protesters are picketing the office of Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov's SCM company in Kyiv, accusing him of being a sponsor of the violence on November 30, when riot police used batons and stun grenades to disperse the crowd at the Maidan.

15:09. Around two thousand opposition activists are picketing the General Prosecutor's Office in Kyiv.

at the General Prosecutor's Office

15:27. Prayers and processions in support of preserving the integrity of the country will be held throughout Ukraine on December 18-19. This initiative was supported by Pochayiv Lavra, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and Svyatogorskaya Holy Dormition Lavra that actively participated in its organization.

16:11. Press service of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers reported that scammers lure money from local officials by sending them fake Presidential Decree "On measures needed to eliminate the consequences of the events that are happening now in the country".

16:18. Ukrainian lawyers will hold a protest against massive and systematic violations of their rights as of professional jurists on the Maidan on their professional holiday on December 19th.

16:50. Former Ukrainian Interior Minister and head of the public organization "Ukrainian Third Republic" Yuriy Lutsenko offered to create the Maidan political party - a political force, which would express the interests of Euromaidan.

17:11. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko says that Ukraine came under the control of Russia as a result of agreements reached by President Viktor Yanukovich and hot Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

17:19. In Zaporozhye the activists and organizers of local Euromaidan are massively summoned to the regional police department for questioning.

17:55. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said that Viktor Yanukovich's agreements with Russia were approved by Ukrainian oligarchs.

19:29. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Viktor Yanukovich's deal with Russia does not interfere with the EU-Ukraine association agreement.

Read next: Ukrainian crisis: December 19th

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