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| Accord Is Signed in Ukraine but Doubts Are Strong | Accord Is Signed in Ukraine but Doubts Are Strong |
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| KIEV, Ukraine — The embattled president of Ukraine and leaders of the opposition signed a political deal on Friday aimed at ending a spiral of lethal violence with early elections and a reduction in presidential powers, but Russia declined to endorse the accord, and many protesters said nothing short of the president’s resignation would get them off the street. | KIEV, Ukraine — The embattled president of Ukraine and leaders of the opposition signed a political deal on Friday aimed at ending a spiral of lethal violence with early elections and a reduction in presidential powers, but Russia declined to endorse the accord, and many protesters said nothing short of the president’s resignation would get them off the street. |
| In a further sign of President Viktor F. Yanukovych’s diminished influence, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to allow the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been imprisoned for more than two years. In a 310-to-54 vote, lawmakers decriminalized the actions for which she was incarcerated. | |
| It was not immediately clear when Ms. Tymoshenko might be released from a penitentiary in the eastern city of Kharkiv where she has been serving her sentence. But she is still considered one of Mr. Yanukovych’s most potent adversaries. | It was not immediately clear when Ms. Tymoshenko might be released from a penitentiary in the eastern city of Kharkiv where she has been serving her sentence. But she is still considered one of Mr. Yanukovych’s most potent adversaries. |
| The vote aimed at releasing her came hours after word of the political deal reached between Mr. Yanukovych and the main opposition leaders. | The vote aimed at releasing her came hours after word of the political deal reached between Mr. Yanukovych and the main opposition leaders. |
| Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister and part of a European team that has been pushing for a settlement, said a council representing some protesters in Independence Square in Kiev, the focal point of months of protests, had endorsed the hard-fought deal in a vote, with 34 voting in favor and only two against. | Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister and part of a European team that has been pushing for a settlement, said a council representing some protesters in Independence Square in Kiev, the focal point of months of protests, had endorsed the hard-fought deal in a vote, with 34 voting in favor and only two against. |
| Arseniy Yatsenyuk, one of three opposition members of Parliament who signed the accord with Mr. Yanukovych, acknowledged that it might not go down well with protesters who want Mr. Yanukovych gone, but said they could be persuaded. | Arseniy Yatsenyuk, one of three opposition members of Parliament who signed the accord with Mr. Yanukovych, acknowledged that it might not go down well with protesters who want Mr. Yanukovych gone, but said they could be persuaded. |
| “We need to explain, and we need to not only explain, we need to act,” he said after marathon negotiations at the presidential administration building mediated by European and Russian diplomats. “People will never trust any kind of signature. People will trust real action.” | “We need to explain, and we need to not only explain, we need to act,” he said after marathon negotiations at the presidential administration building mediated by European and Russian diplomats. “People will never trust any kind of signature. People will trust real action.” |
| A bigger problem could be a refusal by Russia’s representative to join the Europeans in signing the accord, which suggested Moscow might work to undo the deal through economic or other pressure. “I am upset that the Russians are not signatories,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said. “I am really upset.” | A bigger problem could be a refusal by Russia’s representative to join the Europeans in signing the accord, which suggested Moscow might work to undo the deal through economic or other pressure. “I am upset that the Russians are not signatories,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said. “I am really upset.” |
| Previous settlements and truces have broken down several times, engulfed by wild bursts of violence on the streets of Kiev, the capital, and in other parts of the country, particularly western regions where antigovernment sentiment has always been strong. | Previous settlements and truces have broken down several times, engulfed by wild bursts of violence on the streets of Kiev, the capital, and in other parts of the country, particularly western regions where antigovernment sentiment has always been strong. |
| But these previous deals were not reached with the high-level involvement of European Union and Russian mediators, as was the case in the overnight talks Friday, which continued until the middle of the afternoon. A statement from Mr. Yanukovych’s office, issued before the signing, said the talks had been “very difficult.” | But these previous deals were not reached with the high-level involvement of European Union and Russian mediators, as was the case in the overnight talks Friday, which continued until the middle of the afternoon. A statement from Mr. Yanukovych’s office, issued before the signing, said the talks had been “very difficult.” |
| The pressure for a political settlement has been intense, coming not only from foreign governments but also from a widespread fear among the population that this former Soviet republic of 46 million people was hurtling toward a possible civil war, particularly after frenzied violence on Thursday that the opposition says killed more than 70 protesters. | The pressure for a political settlement has been intense, coming not only from foreign governments but also from a widespread fear among the population that this former Soviet republic of 46 million people was hurtling toward a possible civil war, particularly after frenzied violence on Thursday that the opposition says killed more than 70 protesters. |
| Thursday was the most lethal day of political mayhem in Ukraine since independence from the Soviet Union more than 22 years ago. The violence escalated the urgency of the crisis, which began with protests in late November after a decision by Mr. Yanukovych to spurn a trade and political deal with the European Union and tilt his nation toward Russia instead. | Thursday was the most lethal day of political mayhem in Ukraine since independence from the Soviet Union more than 22 years ago. The violence escalated the urgency of the crisis, which began with protests in late November after a decision by Mr. Yanukovych to spurn a trade and political deal with the European Union and tilt his nation toward Russia instead. |
| As word of a deal spread on Friday, many protesters responded angrily to the proposition that any settlement was possible until Mr. Yanukovych left office. Many demanded that he be put on trial, along with officials whom protesters hold responsible for volleys of gunfire and attacks by snipers. | As word of a deal spread on Friday, many protesters responded angrily to the proposition that any settlement was possible until Mr. Yanukovych left office. Many demanded that he be put on trial, along with officials whom protesters hold responsible for volleys of gunfire and attacks by snipers. |
| The deal reached Friday instead leaves Mr. Yanukovych in power until at least the end of the year. It calls for early presidential elections in December, a swift return to a constitution of 2004 that sharply limited the president’s powers, and the establishment within 10 days of a “government of national trust.” | The deal reached Friday instead leaves Mr. Yanukovych in power until at least the end of the year. It calls for early presidential elections in December, a swift return to a constitution of 2004 that sharply limited the president’s powers, and the establishment within 10 days of a “government of national trust.” |
| “We don’t want to wait until December,” said Roman Kvasuk, an antigovernment protester standing at a newly reinforced barricade on Hrushevsky Street, a scene of frequent and bloody clashes with riot police officers. Mr. Kvasuk was speaking as he and a group of fellow activists planned to walk up the street toward Parliament, a move that risked drawing gunfire from jittery government forces responsible for protecting official buildings. | “We don’t want to wait until December,” said Roman Kvasuk, an antigovernment protester standing at a newly reinforced barricade on Hrushevsky Street, a scene of frequent and bloody clashes with riot police officers. Mr. Kvasuk was speaking as he and a group of fellow activists planned to walk up the street toward Parliament, a move that risked drawing gunfire from jittery government forces responsible for protecting official buildings. |
| Yuriy Korshenko, a lawyer and former judge who joined thousands of others on Thursday at Mikhailovsky Cathededral near Independence Square to show support for the protesters, said Mr. Yanukovych must leave office immediately “or he will end up like Ceaucescu and Qaddafi.” | Yuriy Korshenko, a lawyer and former judge who joined thousands of others on Thursday at Mikhailovsky Cathededral near Independence Square to show support for the protesters, said Mr. Yanukovych must leave office immediately “or he will end up like Ceaucescu and Qaddafi.” |
| The Romanian and Libyan dictators, Nicolae Ceaucescu and Muammar el-Qaddafi, were both killed in bloody uprisings against their rule. Mr. Korshenko added, “If Yanukovych were a man of honor, he would have already shot himself.” | The Romanian and Libyan dictators, Nicolae Ceaucescu and Muammar el-Qaddafi, were both killed in bloody uprisings against their rule. Mr. Korshenko added, “If Yanukovych were a man of honor, he would have already shot himself.” |
| By late Thursday evening, the choices for Mr. Yanukovych had narrowed to a stark dilemma between a massacre of protesters or negotiation: exhausted and outnumbered riot police officers had withdrawn from their positions in front of the cabinet building and the Parliament, leaving 500 yards of eerily empty pavement between the last protest barricade near the Dynamo soccer stadium and the seats of power. | By late Thursday evening, the choices for Mr. Yanukovych had narrowed to a stark dilemma between a massacre of protesters or negotiation: exhausted and outnumbered riot police officers had withdrawn from their positions in front of the cabinet building and the Parliament, leaving 500 yards of eerily empty pavement between the last protest barricade near the Dynamo soccer stadium and the seats of power. |
| But the windows of the cabinet building were fortified with sandbags to create firing positions onto the street below, the only option left to defend the building as talks continued through the night elsewhere in the capital with the opposition and the European and Russian envoys. | But the windows of the cabinet building were fortified with sandbags to create firing positions onto the street below, the only option left to defend the building as talks continued through the night elsewhere in the capital with the opposition and the European and Russian envoys. |
| European officials greeted the news of an agreement with caution, with some indicating it was premature to say an accord had really been reached. | European officials greeted the news of an agreement with caution, with some indicating it was premature to say an accord had really been reached. |
| Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, who helped mediate the talks, said much remained unresolved. “As long as things are not effectively completed, we must remain very prudent,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “The opposition wants to consult a certain number of its supporters, which is understandable,” Mr. Fabius said, according to The A.P. “We discussed all subjects during these negotiations. It was done in an extremely difficult atmosphere, because there were dozens of dead and the country is on the verge of civil war.” | Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, who helped mediate the talks, said much remained unresolved. “As long as things are not effectively completed, we must remain very prudent,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “The opposition wants to consult a certain number of its supporters, which is understandable,” Mr. Fabius said, according to The A.P. “We discussed all subjects during these negotiations. It was done in an extremely difficult atmosphere, because there were dozens of dead and the country is on the verge of civil war.” |
| The mass shootings on Thursday followed a quickly shattered truce, with enraged protesters parading dozens of captured police officers through Kiev’s central square. | The mass shootings on Thursday followed a quickly shattered truce, with enraged protesters parading dozens of captured police officers through Kiev’s central square. |
| Mr. Yanukovych lost at least a dozen political allies, including the mayor of the capital, who resigned from his governing Party of Regions to protest the bloodshed. | Mr. Yanukovych lost at least a dozen political allies, including the mayor of the capital, who resigned from his governing Party of Regions to protest the bloodshed. |
| Images of bullet-riddled bodies slumped amid smoldering debris, some of them shot in the head, and screaming medics carrying the dead and wounded to emergency clinics, including one in a hotel lobby, shocked the country and many people around the world. The widespread use of firearms in the center of the city was a new and ominous element for the protest movement. | Images of bullet-riddled bodies slumped amid smoldering debris, some of them shot in the head, and screaming medics carrying the dead and wounded to emergency clinics, including one in a hotel lobby, shocked the country and many people around the world. The widespread use of firearms in the center of the city was a new and ominous element for the protest movement. |
| Late Thursday, the State Department issued a new travel warning in light of the violence, urging against “all nonessential travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing political unrest and violent clashes between police and protesters.” | Late Thursday, the State Department issued a new travel warning in light of the violence, urging against “all nonessential travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing political unrest and violent clashes between police and protesters.” |
| Earlier, there had been rumors that Mr. Yanukovych, his police ranks stretched thin, might declare a state of emergency, a move that could herald the deployment of the military to help quell the crisis. | Earlier, there had been rumors that Mr. Yanukovych, his police ranks stretched thin, might declare a state of emergency, a move that could herald the deployment of the military to help quell the crisis. |
| But his authority to do so was unclear. Opposition leaders convened a session of Parliament late Thursday, and together with defectors from the pro-government party they passed a resolution obliging Interior Ministry troops to return to their barracks and the police to their usual posts, and prohibiting the use of firearms against protesters. It also asserted that only lawmakers, rather than the president, could declare a state of emergency. Perhaps more than these assertions, the vote was significant for signaling that Mr. Yanukovych had lost control of a majority in Parliament. | But his authority to do so was unclear. Opposition leaders convened a session of Parliament late Thursday, and together with defectors from the pro-government party they passed a resolution obliging Interior Ministry troops to return to their barracks and the police to their usual posts, and prohibiting the use of firearms against protesters. It also asserted that only lawmakers, rather than the president, could declare a state of emergency. Perhaps more than these assertions, the vote was significant for signaling that Mr. Yanukovych had lost control of a majority in Parliament. |
| Both the United States and the European Union, which made good on pledges to slap punitive sanctions on Ukrainian officials deemed to be responsible for the deadly escalation, warned Mr. Yanukovych to avoid declaring a state of emergency. | Both the United States and the European Union, which made good on pledges to slap punitive sanctions on Ukrainian officials deemed to be responsible for the deadly escalation, warned Mr. Yanukovych to avoid declaring a state of emergency. |