Authorities to form a group to resolve situation in Ukraine

“A group created to settle [the political crisis in the country], led
by [National Security and Defense Council Secretary] Andriy Kliuyev,
has started working. The group consists of Justice Minister Olena Lukash
and [Presidential Adviser] Andriy Portnov,” she said.

She also added: “The group has already called on the opposition to
meet in the afternoon and so that the opposition could decide on its
representatives and [the group] could be ready for talks on the
situation in the country.”

When asked by Interfax-Ukraine whether Ukrainian President Viktor
Yanukovych plans to attend a meeting with opposition representatives,
Herman said that this would be the first meeting and that it would be
held without the participation of the head of state.

As reported, on January 19, after a people’s assembly on Independence
Square part of the protesters went to the government quarter, but the
road on Hrushevskoho Street was blocked by the riot police line. This
resulted in clashes between radical protesters and law enforcement
officers, which lasted for more than 16 hours.

After an unsuccessful attempt to restrain the violent protesters,
UDAR Party leader Vitali Klitschko said that he was planning to meet
with Yanukovych in his residence in Mezhyhirya (Kyiv region). Klitschko
said after the meeting with Yanukovych said that the president had
promised to create on Monday a commission consisting of representatives
of the presidential administration, the Cabinet of Ministers and the
opposition, which will deal with the settlement of the crisis in the
country.

Klitschko also said that Yanukovych had promised to meet with opposition leaders on Monday, January 20.