Ukraine's interim leader declares priority for European integration

Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov said on February 23 that the country would try to improve relations with Russia but affirmed that Kiev would prioritize returning to the path of European integration.

In his address to the nation, Mr. Turchynov outlined the extremely difficult tasks facing Ukraine's new leadership after the collapse of President Viktor Yanukovych's government, including stabilizing an economy that he said was close to bankruptcy and "moving toward the brink of the abyss."

Thousands of people still gathered at Independence Square on February 23 and will hold out until the election (Source: AFP/VNA)

“We recognize the importance of our relations with the Russian Federation and are ready for dialogue with the Russian leadership aimed at building relations with this country on a new, truly fair and neighborly basis… taking into account Ukraine’s European choice. But another priority is to return to the path of European integration. We must return to the family of European nations,” he said, adding that he hoped Ukraine’s European choice would be confirmed in the presidential elections on May 25.

On the same day, the Mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, Volodymyr Makeenko, said that in the center of Kiev, the demolition of barricades erected by protesters around Independence Square will begin from February 24.

"From February 24, we will start cleaning Kiev and dismantling the barricades. And of course, this must be negotiated directly with the citizens who built them. Step by step we will remove them, it's time to clean up. Kiev is functioning, there are no flaws in transport, public services, or food security," Makeenko said.

A Russian reporter said on February 23 that many Kiev residents have come to the capital's central streets to clean up the garbage that has accumulated over the past months./.

According to VNA