Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


             US Senator Visits Ukraine, Backs Opposition Protesters

   U.S. Senator John McCain met Saturday in the Ukrainian capital with key
   government and opposition leaders, ahead of a mass rally aimed at
   forcing the Kyiv government and its leader, President Viktor
   Yanukovych, from power.
   McCain voiced support for protesters who have occupied central Kyiv for
   much of the past three weeks, telling reporters he is "proud of what
   the people of Ukraine are doing so they can restore democracy to their
   country."
   McCain is the latest in a string of Western dignitaries to tour the
   huge makeshift protest encampment since demonstrations erupted last
   month over a presidential decision to back away from a key trade deal
   with the European Union. Kyiv says it will instead focus on repairing
   and strengthening economic ties with Russia.
   Moscow had not directly commented on the McCain visit. But Russian
   Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking Saturday, said Western
   governments had, in his words, "apparently lost the sense of reality"
   in opposing Ukraine`s turn toward Moscow.
   Earlier Saturday, President Yanukovych -- in a bid to ease tensions in
   the capital -- suspended key government officials for their suspected
   roles in a violent November 30 police crackdown on demonstrators.
   Ukraine`s opposition leaders are calling for a new mass protest in Kyiv
   on Sunday, while supporters of Mr. Yanukovych are also planning a
   demonstration just a kilometer away.
   A poll by Ukraine`s non-governmental Research & Branding group released
   earlier this month shows 46 percent of Ukrainians favoring the EU trade
   pact. Thirty-six percent were shown favoring a rival trade bloc of
   former Soviet republics and satellite countries that is being pushed by
   Moscow.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-senator-visits-ukraine-backs-oppos
   ition-protesters/1810588.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-senator-visits-ukraine-backs-opposition-protesters/1810588.html