BBC: Why is Ukraine in turmoil?
Violence has erupted in the Ukrainian capital Kiev once again, with dozens of people being killed during clashes between anti-government protesters and police.
The stand-off, which has oscillated between calm and violence for months, escalated dramatically on 18 February, with policemen being shot, and riot police moving in to clear the peaceful protest camp on Independence Square.
The stakes for Ukraine and its 45 million people are enormous, with the country's fate now part of a wider strategic battle between the West and Russia.
What are the protests about?
Those on the streets say they are struggling over the future development of the country - will it be a country based on the rule of law, or Russian-style oligarchy and closed interests?
The protests broke out after President Viktor Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013, in favour of stronger ties with Russia. Thousands of people, outraged that a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe had been ditched overnight, poured into central Kiev for peaceful protests. They have occupied Independence Square, known as Maidan, ever since.
Several developments - including violent police attacks on student protesters, severe new anti-protests laws, and the abduction and beating of opposition activists - have caused the demonstrations to spread and intensify. For many people, they are now less about Europe than about getting rid of a president they believe is clinging to power and serving the interests of his own close circle and Moscow.
What caused the latest outburst?
More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25182823
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