The US and EU on Thursday implored president Viktor Yanukovich to pull Ukraine away from the brink of civil war after clashes between anti-government protesters and police killed 70 people in the bloodiest day in the country’s modern history.
EU ministers agreed to impose sanctions including visa bans and asset freezes against Ukrainian officials linked to the violence “in light of the deteriorating situation”. The US urged Mr Yanukovich to withdraw security forces from the Ukrainian capital.
Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said Washington was “outraged” by images of security forces firing automatic weapons at protesters, in by far the deadliest fighting in three months of protests against Mr Yanukovich’s rule.