Ukraine opposition appeals for financial aid

Ukraine’s opposition called for international mediation and appealed for Western financial aid for the first time in their protests against the president Viktor Yanukovych yesterday.

As tens of thousands of people rallied in Kiev, the boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko told the crowd he had requested “international mediation in our negotiations with Yanukovych so there are no misunderstandings”.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister, said: “We spoke to our Western partners and told them that we need real financial aid. They are ready to do it. By ‘we’, I mean the Ukrainian people. Not a single kopeck should go to the Yanukovych regime.”