Obama sends warning as Kiev in flames

US President Barack Obama warned starkly of “consequences” after apocalyptic scenes in Kiev on February 18, in which 26 officers and civilians died as battles broke out across the central area. Obama said he held President Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian government responsible for ensuring that Ukrainians could protest “without fear of repression.” The scenes in the heart of Kiev suggested a war zone that was being reinforced from all sides before a new fight. But Yanukovych announced a “truce” and the start of direct talks with the opposition. The shocking scale of the violence three months into the crisis brought expressions of grave concern from Western leaders and condemnation of an “attempted coup” by the Kremlin.

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