Ukraine opposition demands Russia agreement details Published duration 18 December 2013

image caption Independence Square in Kiev is occupied by pro-EU protesters

Opposition leaders in Ukraine have demanded to know what President Viktor Yanukovych has offered Russia in return for a major economic lifeline.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to buy billions of dollars worth of Ukrainian government bonds and slash the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas.

The announcement comes as Russia tries to stop Ukraine moving towards the EU.

Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko told pro-EU protesters in Kiev Mr Yanukovych was betraying Ukraine's independence.

"He has given up Ukraine's national interests, given up independence," Mr Klitschko, a former boxing champion, told the crowd on Tuesday.

"[President] Yanukovych used our country as collateral. According to our sources, he has agreed to a bailout from Russia and put Ukrainian plants, strategic industries, heavy industries, aviation and energy manufacturers up as collateral against it. We want to know what exactly he did put up as collateral, and his reasons for doing it."

He called on the Ukrainian president to hold a snap election.

"Yanukovych said at our round-table talks that he is not afraid of an early election. If that's the case, let him prove it in an honest fight," he said.

Although details of the agreement are unclear, Oleh Tyahnybok, leader of an opposition far-right group, said Mr Yanukovych had "pawned whole sectors" of the country's economy to Russia.

Ukraine urgently needs to cover an external funding gap of up to $17bn (£10.4bn; 12.3bn euros) next year to avoid defaulting on its debts.

After talks between Mr Putin and Mr Yanukovych in the Kremlin, it was announced Russia would buy $15bn-worth of Ukrainian government bonds.

The cost of Russian gas supplied to Ukraine has been slashed from more than $400 (£245; 291 euros) per 1,000 cubic metres to $268.5.

Mr Putin said the assistance was not "tied to any conditions".

He also said they had not discussed Ukraine joining a Moscow-led customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The US has warned the Ukrainian government that the deal with Russia would not satisfy the protesters.

image caption Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin signed the deal at the Kremlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said ties with Russia should not prevent Kiev from looking West.

"At the moment it seems to be an either-or proposition. We need to put an end to this," she told ARD TV.

"A bidding competition won't solve the problem."

Mr Yanukovych made a surprise U-turn on an EU association agreement deal last month, sparking mass demonstrations.

He admitted his decision had been influenced by heavy pressure from Russia.

The current protests, the largest since Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution, are pushing for the resignation of Mr Yanukovych and his government, and early elections.

Ukraine relies on imports of Russian gas and heavy energy-intensive industries in eastern Ukraine are especially anxious to keep the price of gas down. Some 75% of Ukraine's engineering exports go to Russia.