The European Parliament has called on the EU to do more to support eastern partners seeking closer European ties.

The session in Strasbourg passed a resolution condemning the “brutal use of force against peaceful demonstrations,” demanding the immediate release of detained protesters, and calling for top-level EU engagement with Kyiv.

Green MEPs expressed solidarity with pro-EU protesters by waving Ukrainian and EU flags.

“We have more and more feelings that they are not interested in the West anymore, that Yanukovych is minded to go to Russia. I feel sometimes that the Iron curtain is coming back again, I hope I am wrong. We call for him to agree to a real round table under the conditions that the opposition is explaining,” said German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok, chairman of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

The parliament’s resolution calls on the EU to use all the tools it has – including aid, trade, visa waivers and other projects – to support eastern partners.

It was passed as Ukrainian opposition members were in Strasbourg, invited by the Greens.

Ostap Semerak, a former MP in the Ukrainian parliament, said: “Ukraine is in a big danger. The current political crisis is not leading towards a peaceful settlement. We came to speak with our partners, with our friends in the European family because Ukraine needs urgent help from the European Union – our political partners and neighbours.”