Envoys travel to Ukraine as protestors brave freezing temperatures

Top Western diplomats headed to Kiev today to try to defuse a stand-off between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s government and thousands of demonstrators, following a night in which police in riot gear dismantled protesters’ encampments outside government buildings.

Demonstrators have occupied the Ukrainian capital for weeks protesting at Mr Yanukovych’s decision to freeze ties with the European Union and lean towards Russia instead.