(VOVworld) – The Russian Foreign Minister has criticized the reaction of some EU countries to Ukraine’s decision to suspend landmark deals with the bloc. Sergei Lavrov made the announcement on Thursday as protests were taking place across Ukraine against the Kiev administration.

Protestors in Kiev. Photo: internet

The Ukrainian government says that violence-inciting activities are illegal and the protests are signs of a coup. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has called on the opposition to stop escalating tension amid the country’s worst economic crisis in the past decade. He also denounced extremists who tried to block the government offices and warned the protestors not to act against the country’s Constitution and laws. Ukrainian police have set a deadline for protestors in Kiev to leave the government buildings they are occupying in the next 5 days.