Below are the foreign reactions to the Euromaidan.[nb 1] Euromaidan was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine that began on the night of 21 November 2013 after the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.[4]
European Union — Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle stated on 26 November 2013 "I am happy that democracy in Ukraine has reached the moment where the people are free to assemble and express their opinion, particular on the issue which is so relevant for their own future, the future of Ukraine".[5] Members of the European Parliament responsible for the Eastern Partnership policy Elmar Brok and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski warned Ukraine on 26 November not to use force against pro-Europe protestors "Otherwise, there will be serious consequences".[6]
UN — Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated on 3 December "I appeal to all parties to act with restraint, avoid any further violence and to uphold the democratic principles of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly".[11]
NATO — When asked about "pressure put on Ukraine" the Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated on 28 November "If anyone puts pressure on Ukraine in order to prevent Ukraine from deciding freely on Ukraine's affiliation, its alliances, then this will be in contradiction with the principles to which we all subscribed many years ago, in 1999, when an OSCE document was signed under which each individual country has the right to decide for itself. We're sticking to that principle, and we do hope that all of the other countries that signed that document do the same".[12] Rasmussen stated on 3 December "I strongly condemn the excessive use of police forces we have witnessed in Kyiv. I would expect all NATO partners, including Ukraine, to live up to fundamental democratic principles including freedom of assembly and freedom of expression".[13]
OSCE — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović stated on 2 December her concern of the amount of violence used against the media during the demonstrations.[15]
Australia – Foreign Minister Julie Bishop urged (on 12 December 2013) the Ukrainian authorities to exercise utmost restraint with regard to the protests, to ensure Ukraine's international commitments to the freedoms of assembly and expression are fully upheld, and "to listen to the voices and aspirations of the Ukrainian people".[17]
Bulgaria – President Rosen Plevneliev advised (on 29 November 2013) Ukrainian politicians to "listen to the voice of the people," referring to large protests against the decision in Ukraine.[18]
Canada – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made an official statement on 30 November, "Canada strongly condemns the deplorable use of violence today by Ukrainian authorities against peaceful protesters in Independence Square. These demonstrators simply want a closer association with the European Union. Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental tenets of any truly democratic country. We call upon the Government of Ukraine to respect and indeed protect the rights of its citizens to express their opinions freely, consistent with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe principles. Canada stands with the people of Ukraine to build a society based on freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law."[19]
Colombia – Foreign Ministry, on behalf of the Government, released a press release stating "deep concern about the situation in Ukraine" while also deploring the "acts of violence that have taken place in the last couple of days. In the same press statement, Colombia urged the Government of Ukraine to "guarantee security, human rights, and the fundamental liberties of its citizens".[24]
Germany – Chancellor Angela Merkel commented on 27 November "The EU and Germany have to talk to Russia. The Cold War is over".[25] At the 28–29 November 2013 EU summit, where originally it was planned that the Association Agreement would be signed on 29 November 2013,[26]) Merkel remarked to President Yanukovych "We see you here, but we expected more".[27] Foreign minister Guido Westerwelle stated on 2 December the huge rallies showed "the heart of Ukrainian people beats in a European way".[28]
Hungary – On 5 December, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Zsolt Németh decried the violence, especially that committed by state authorities, and maintained that no state has the right to intervene in the affairs of other states.[31]
Israel – The Israeli embassy in Ukraine issued a statement, "Israel highly appraises the Ukrainian government's fight against anti-Semitism and hopes that it will strongly condemn and prevent such attacks."[32]
Latvia – Foreign Affairs Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted: "Disturbing news from Ukraine, I condemn police violence against proeuropean demonstration in Kyiv."[33]
Lithuania – President Dalia Grybauskaitė said (11 December) that "The application of force against peaceful protesters in Kyiv is unjustifiable. It is a direct responsibility of Ukraine's political leadership", Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius stated (10 December) "On behalf of the Lithuanian Government, I express concern to the Government of Ukraine over the situation in the country with military forces drawn to the centre of Kyiv and the pending threat of the use of force against unarmed civilians" also I urge the Prime Minister of Ukraine to take a responsible consideration of the situation and start a dialogue with the opposition as soon as possible to reach a peaceful solution"[34]
Poland – Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that "President Yanukovych is miscalculating badly as regards the Association Agreement with EU and towards the people of Ukraine."[33]
Russia – On 22 November 2013, President Vladimir Putin accused the EU of blackmailing Ukraine to sign the Association Agreement, "including promoting the holding of mass protests".[37] Following the police crackdown and riots on 30 November – 1 December Putin stated, "The events in Ukraine seem more like a pogrom than a revolution"; he also believed "It has little to do with Ukraine's relations with the European Union".[38][39] Putin further blamed "outside actors" for the protests, which he saw as an attempt to unsettle Ukraine's "legitimate" rulers.[40] On Russia Today, Putin stated "Ukrainian opposition either not in control of situation or serves as cover-up for extremist activities".[41]
Sweden – Swedish ambassador to Ukraine, Andreas von Beckerath, wrote on Twitter, "Very disturbing reports on police brutality at Maidan. Violence against peaceful demonstrators [is] unacceptable and opposite of EU-integration."[33] Sweden's Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Bildt tweeted that the "Repression against pro-EU manifestations in Kiev [is] deeply worrying."[50]
United Kingdom – David Lidington, the Minister of State for Europe, issued a statement on 30 November saying he "was very concerned to hear reports of police violence being used to break up a peaceful demonstration in Kyiv in the early hours of this morning. I am aware that further demonstrations are planned this weekend. I urge the Ukrainian authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest and to investigate thoroughly why police violence was used today."[51]
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United States – Secretary of State John Kerry stated on 28 November, the first day of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, "Average citizens of each member country – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia – play a prominent role in the continuing integration with the international community and this is very important".[52] After attacks on journalists on 29 November U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey R. Pyatt tweeted "We strongly support the right to freedom of speech, press and assembly, and condemn today's attack on Ukrainian journalists,"[53][54][55] and on Voice of America radio, warned about serious consequences for the use of force by the government against protesters in support for Ukraine's European integration in Kyiv.[56] On 2 December, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the White House did not consider those demonstrations in Ukraine to be coup attempts,[40] and stated "the violence by government authorities against peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv on Saturday [30 November] morning was unacceptable".[57] On 3 December he added "Violence and intimidation should have no place in today's Ukraine. We continue to support the aspirations of the Ukrainian people to achieve a prosperous European democracy. European integration is the surest course to economic growth and to strengthening Ukraine's democracy".[11]On 4 February 2014,[61] a YouTube post[62] revealed a phone conversation between Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and Geoffrey R. Pyatt, United States Ambassador to Ukraine, in which Nuland, referring to Vitali Klitschko as 'Klitsch' and Arseniy Yatsenyuk as 'Yats', stated "I don't think Klitsch should go into the government. I don't think it's necessary. I don't think it's a good idea... I think Yats is the guy... ." Nuland went on to state that Robert Serry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be used to put pressure on Ukrainian leaders, including the opposition, to circumvent the EU, specifically Nuland exclaimed "and, you know, fuck the E.U."[63]
In December 2013, a proposal of opposition deputy Giorgi Baramidze in the Parliament of Georgia "to encourage supporters of Ukraine's European integration with a special resolution and to condemn the violence on participants of peaceful rallies in Kiev" was met by counter demands by representatives of the parliamentary majority "that deputies of the former ruling party United National Movement should give a political assessment of forceful dispersals of the Georgian opposition rallies in Tbilisi in 2007 and 2011".[64] The dispute between deputies escalated into a brawl, in which no one sustained serious injuries.[64] On 21 February 2014, during President Giorgi Margvelashvili's annual address, the Georgian lawmakers observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of violence in Kyiv, with the Ukrainian flags on display on the desks of many members of the parliament.[65]
Smaller protests or Euromaidans were also organized starting on 24 November by Ukrainians and local citizens of Ukrainian descent in countries such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Austria, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, the United States and Canada.[91] More than one hundred Ukrainians had gathered in Prague to support Euromaidan in Ukraine.[92] Conspicuously absent were non Ukrainian radical leftist organized demonstrations supporting Euromaidan.[93]
Similar events were reported on 26 November in Warsaw,[94] Kraków,[95] Łódź,[96] Poznań,[97] Wrocław,[98] Katowice,[99] Lublin,[100] Rzeszów,[100] Olsztyn,[101] Elbląg,[102] Zamość,[103] Biały Bór,[104] London, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Budapest, Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm, Malmö, Lund, Vienna, Bratislava, Vilnius,[105] Tbilisi, Toronto (150),[106] Winnipeg (100+),[107] Saskatoon,[108] Edmonton (150),[109] Cleveland (Parma),[110] Sofia,[111] and The Hague.[112] Simultaneous support events were organized by Baltic nationalist youth movements on 3 December in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius.[113] And one in Amsterdam on 7 December.[114]
In Vienna, hundreds came with banners to support the rapprochement between Ukraine and the EU. In London, the gathered Ukrainian community chanted the slogan "Ukraine to Europe".[91]
In Sofia, Ukrainians in Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizens have called a rally for 27 November in support of pro-EU protesters in Ukraine. Bulgarian organizers have suggested a bond between Ukrainian protesters and anti-government protesters in Bulgaria, who have been calling for the resignation of left-wing PM Plamen Oresharski since mid-June. According to them, both nations must unite against "ever-hungry oligarchs who forcibly push us towards Russia."[111]
In Armenia, on 2 December, hundreds of people marched through the capital Yerevan to denounce a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin and to express their solidarity with the pro-European rallies in Ukraine.[115][nb 4] Local media reported that 100 participants were arrested by police.[115]
On 1 and 2 December, rallies were held in several Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton (250 protesters),[116] Saskatoon (100+),[117] Regina,[118] Winnipeg,[119] Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.[72] Protests were also held in the American cities of New York City (200+)[120] Chicago (200+),[121] Philadelphia (40),[122] Miami (50),[123][124] and Warren, Michigan[125] (bordering Detroit).
On 8 December, Euromaidan solidarity rallies occurred in many North American cities, including New York (1000+), San Francisco (500+),[126] Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, San Diego.[127] On 30 December, Niagara Falls was lit blue and yellow while a rally was held. [128]
In Tashkent on 27 January, several activists gathered in front of Ukrainian embassy, supporting Euromaidan, waving flags of Ukraine, Georgia and Ukrainian Insurgent Army. They were detained by police.[129]
On 29 November 2013, on the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka, Poles and Ukrainians created a human chain as a symbol of a solidarity between the two nations, and as a sign of support for pro-EU protesters in Ukraine.[130]
On 2 December, supporters picketed the Embassy of Ukraine in Moscow holding a banner reading "Ukraine, we are with you". 11 participants, including Yaroslavl Oblast Legislative Assembly member Boris Nemtsov, were detained by police[81] and later released on grounds of "violating procedure".[131][132] On 5 December, a rally in support of Euromaidan was also held in St. Petersburg.[133]
In December 2013, Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science,[134] Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company Tower in Buffalo,[135] Cira Centre in Philadelphia,[136] and the Tbilisi City Assembly in Georgia[137] were illuminated in blue and yellow as a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine.
When the existence of protests could no longer be denied, they were presented as a foreign plot. On television and on the Internet, two themes dominate: the Europeans want our historic territory, and the Europeans are gay. Fantasies of sex and domination displace description and analysis.
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Russian state television reporting on Euromaidan "has been described as misleading, [and] at times downright odd"; it claimed "Russian television reporters have spared no efforts to portray the protesters as a horde of hooligans funded by the West to topple Yanukovych and sow chaos in Ukraine".[147] A Russia-1 report on 1 December featured an eight-minute long live segment that contained no interviews and almost no additional footage. The reporter said the situation in Kyiv is pure "anarchy," adding that the streets were dangerous, especially for Russians, and said that the protests seem to be orchestrated by Western countries.[148] On the same network, Dmitry Kiselyov (who during the protests was made head of the state news agency)[149] described the Klitschko brothers on 8 December as "gay icons", and demonstrators in Kyiv were accused of surviving off of heated lard and using "ancient African military techniques" against police, and surmised "Under the slogan 'Ukraine is Europe,' life in central Kyiv is becoming more and more archaic."[147][150] Attempts were made to link alleged "early sex from the age of 9 in Sweden" and pre-pubescent impotence, along with a rise in child abortions, with European integration.[147][151] Also during a show on Russia-1, it was stated that the protests had been organised by Sweden, Poland and Lithuania "because they were still smarting from Russia's victory at the Battle of Poltava in 1709".[152] "This week the coalition has shown its full strength," Kiselyov said on his weekly talk show, "It looked like a thirst for revenge for Poltava."[153]
During the second week of protests, Russia-24 had made a link between "a sharp deterioration in the political climate in Ukraine" with "the change in the seasons".[147] The station claimed that this was "a bold theory" of scientists at Columbia University (it added "And it appears that their Russian colleagues agree with them") and it advised protesters in Kyiv to go home for the sake of their health, warning of "a sharp rise in acute respiratory viral infections in Kiev".[147] Russian state-owned Perviy Canal (Channel First) reported that only "several hundred people" showed up at the rally on 8 December, and that protests were "dying out",[150] when in reality up to 500,000 attended.[148] It was reported that Russian newscasters in Kyiv have opted to use unbranded microphones, so as to hide their channel's affiliation.[148]
First Channel likened Ukraine's situation to that of Yugoslavia, of which the channel showed footage accompanied by somber music.[154]
Otar Dovzhenko, a TV analyst and professor at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, explained that "Russian media can't hide the protests in Ukraine, so they try to bring them down, make them look undesirable. Discrediting the protests in Ukraine is very important for the regime of President Vladimir Putin. The Orange Revolution of 2004 gave strong inspiration to the opposition in Russia."[148] He also says that Russian media omit the genesis of the Euromaidan protests being the Ukrainian government, which is why foreign interests are usually focused on.[148]
Police estimates of a pro-government rally in Kyiv on 14 December reported a maximum of 60,000.[155]
Channel One Russia presenter and vice-president of Rosneft Mikhail Leontyev stated that "Ukraine is not a country at all, it is a part of our country".[156]
On Russian state television, Andrey Illarionov, a former adviser to Russian president Vladimir Putin, political scientist, is frequently heard discussing preparations for a military invasion, and has stated "Ukraine is a failed state, and the historic chance for reunification of all the Russian lands can be lost in the next couple of weeks, so we mustn't put off the solution to the Ukrainian Question." The phrase "the solution to the Ukrainian Question" is considered to echo Adolf Hitler's Final Solution to the Jewish question.[157]
Komsomolskaya Pravda led its front page on 10 December with the headline "Ukraine may split into several parts" above a map showing the country's division into four areas. The following day, it ran a front-page headline declaring: "Western Ukraine is preparing for civil war".[154]
The newspaper Kommersant Ukraine reported on 24 December 2013 that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had satisfied an inquiry of Party of Regions MP Oleh Tsariov to deny entry into Ukraine to 36 people.[171] Tsariov himself had told Kommersant Ukraine that they were suspected of "consulting with the opposition to destabilize the situation in the country", and hinted that they would have attempted to organize a revolution (in Ukraine).[171] Among the 36 people were former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, academic Taras Kuzio, member of the expert council of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on European Integration Andreas Umland, Brian Fink, Myron Wasylyk, Alec Ross and Marko Ivkovic.[171] The list was alleged to contain 29 citizens of Georgia, five US citizens and a citizen of Serbia.[171]
On 24 January 2014, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov stated in an interview with RBC Information Systems "European politicians could give Ukraine real help in stabilizing the situation" and hinted they should "addressed the Ukrainian opposition and say that the seizure of state organizations and administrative buildings is illegal and contradicts the standards of democracy. And if you pursue such actions, we will not cooperate with you".[172]
