Ukraine president offers protesters olive branch

Ukraine’s embattled president Viktor Yanukovych has promised that some demonstrators arrested in the massive protests sweeping the capital will be released, part of a bid to defuse a political stand-off that is threatening his leadership.

Mr Yanukovych also vowed to renew talks with the European Union on concluding a much-awaited trade and political agreement, after his refusal to sign the deal last month prompted the biggest protests since 2004’s pro-democracy Orange Revolution, some drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Kiev’s streets.

Mr Yanukovych indicated he was still prepared to sign the deal at a summit in spring, but only if the EU can offer better financial terms.”We want to achieve conditions which satisfy Ukraine, Ukrainian producers, the Ukrainian people,” he said in a televised meeting with his three predecessors meant to find a solution to the stand-off. “If we find understanding and if such compromises are reached, the signature will be put” on paper.