Ukraine crisis: President Petro Poroshenko heckled by relatives of 100 killed in Maidan protests

Updated

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has been shouted down by angry relatives of 100 protesters who were killed in Kiev's "Euromaidan" revolution, which began one year ago.

Mr Poroshenko was at a ceremony to pay tribute to the victims when relatives, frustrated by Mr Poroshenko's failure to bring officials of the previous government to justice, began shouting: "Who is a hero for you, Poroshenko?"

They also shouted "where are their killers?" and "down with Poroshenko".

Scores of people were killed in so-called Euromaidan protests earlier this year when clashes erupted between security forces and demonstrators at multiple locations across Kiev.

The protests began in November last year with calls for Ukraine to build closer ties with the European Union and led to the downfall of then president Viktor Yanukovych.

Angry relatives also attacked Mr Poroshenko for failing to keep a promise to confer the title of national hero on the victims, which would bring financial benefits to their families.

It was the first real public display of anger against Mr Poroshenko, who was elected president in May after the pro-Moscow Mr Yanukovych fled the country.

US vice president Joe Biden, who is currently in Ukraine, had been due to make a visit to the area off Kiev's Independence Square but called it off, apparently for security reasons.

Friday marked the first anniversary of the decision by the Yanukovych government to ditch a political and free trade agreement with the European Union in favour of renewed trade ties with Kiev's old Soviet master, Russia.

After Mr Yanukovych fled in February, Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in the east in a conflict which has killed more than 4,300.

Before the confrontation with the relatives, Mr Poroshenko laid candles with other members of the government on a hill off Independence Square - locally known as the Maidan.

He was barely able to be heard as he tried to speak to the hostile crowd afterwards, but said: "If shouting like this continues, everything we did on the Maidan will have been in vain."

He later returned to pledge that he would sign a decree to officially designate the victims, known as the "Heaven's Hundred", as national heroes as promised.

Elena, 65, whose husband was among the victims, burst into tears.

"I don't know why it's taken so long, but now at last they've been recognised ... They died so Ukraine could live."

Meanwhile, Ukraine's new coalition government has now signalled that one of its major priorities is joining the NATO alliance.

The deal, underpinning the coalition between five pro-Western parties, stipulates a law must be passed by the end of the year confirming Ukraine's intention to push for membership of NATO.

It is a move that is sure to raise tensions with Russia.

A senior figure of the Duma has already been quoted by Russian media as saying the new government will be a puppet of the West.

US warns Russia over Ukraine aggression

During his visit to Kiev, Mr Biden warned Russia that it risked "rising costs" over its "unacceptable" aggression in Ukraine.

"It's simply unacceptable in the 21st century for countries to attempt to redraw borders by force... because they don't like a decision their neighbour has made," he said after meeting Mr Poroshenko.

Mr Biden warned that Russia had failed to fulfil its commitments under peace agreements struck in September, adding: "So long as that continues, Russia will face rising costs, greater isolation."

"Do what you agreed to do, Mr Putin," he said.

But earlier Russia had its own warning for the US, saying it would be unwise for America to supply arms to Ukrainian forces fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that a US official's suggestion that Washington should consider sending arms to Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels have been fighting government forces since April, sent a "very serious signal".

I think if we're talking about destabilisation, we have to start with Russia's actions and the separatists that are backed by Russia. US state department spokesman Jeffrey Rathke

Mr Lukashevich cautioned against "a major change in policy of the [US] administration in regard to the conflict" in Ukraine.

"That [would be] a direct violation of agreements reached, including [agreements reached] with the participation of the United States," he said.

The US backs Kiev in its struggle against the pro-Russian separatists in two eastern regions and has imposed sanctions on Russia over its policies.

US state department spokesman Jeffrey Rathke said Washington was "continuing to assess how best to support Ukraine" and "nothing is off the table", including lethal aid.

"I think if we're talking about destabilisation, we have to start with Russia's actions and the separatists that are backed by Russia," Mr Rathke said.

Moscow supports the separatists but denies it is backing the rebels with arms and troops.

ABC/Reuters

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, ukraine, russian-federation, united-states

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