Ukraine Intends to Sign EU Pact, Says Ashton; US Mulls Sanctions

Europe, the United States and Russia are pushing hard at officials in Ukraine to decide on which neighbors it should side. The European Union’s high representative anticipates Ukraine to sign an association pact, even as the US points out that all policy options, including sanctions, remain on the table after a brief crackdown on protests in Kiev, reports Shaun Walker with the Guardian. Fearing the worst, European and US officials condemned Ukrainian leaders after police removed protesters’ barricades and then retreated. “The barricades were promptly rebuilt, twice as high, and up to 20,000 people spent Wednesday night at the square with not a police officer in sight,” Walker reports. “If Ukraine does go ahead and sign the EU association and free-trade pact it will take the sting out of the protests, although in the past weeks they have also taken on a more personal angle air, with opposition leaders demanding Yanukovych resigns and call snap presidential and parliamentary elections.” Ukraine has also asked the EU for €20 billion loan. – YaleGlobal