Below are the foreign reactions to the Euromaidan. Euromaidan was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine that began on the night of 21 November 2013 after the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.
Official reactions
Supranational organisations — Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle stated on 26 November 2013 "I am happy that democracy in Ukraine has reached the moment where the people are free to assemble and express their opinion, particular on the issue which is so relevant for their own future, the future of Ukraine".Füle rues Ukraine's 'missed chance' , Euronews (26 November 2013) Members of the European Parliament responsible for the Eastern Partnership policy Elmar Brok and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski warned Ukraine on 26 November not to use force against pro-Europe protestors "Otherwise, there will be serious consequences".Key MEPs warn Ukraine authorities not to use force against pro-Europe protestors, European Parliament (26 November 2013) On 30 November, Štefan Füle and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton released a joint statement condemning "the excessive use of force last night by the police in Kyiv to disperse peaceful protesters, who over the last days in a strong and unprecedented manner have expressed their support for Ukraine's political association and economic integration with the EU."
Interfax-Ukraine reported on 9 December that staff of the European Union delegation were present at the rallies on Maidan Nezalezhnosti "monitoring developments there".EU diplomats go to demo site in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine (9 December 2013)
President of the European Parliament published a tweet on 9 December that stated "I hope Yanukovych ends his own version of the winter games and starts listening to the legitimate voices coming from Maidan".EP President hopes Yanukovych will start listening to Maidan voices, Interfax-Ukraine (9 December 2013)
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group in the European Parliament, claimed mid January 2014 that Euromaidan "is the largest pro-European demonstration in the history of the European Union".EuroMaidan is the largest demonstration in EU history , UA Today, Retrieved 14.01.2014
International organisations — Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated on 3 December "I appeal to all parties to act with restraint, avoid any further violence and to uphold the democratic principles of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly".The UN and Washington condemn violence in Ukraine , Euronews (3 December 2013) — When asked about "pressure put on Ukraine" the Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated on 28 November "If anyone puts pressure on Ukraine in order to prevent Ukraine from deciding freely on Ukraine's affiliation, its alliances, then this will be in contradiction with the principles to which we all subscribed many years ago, in 1999, when an OSCE document was signed under which each individual country has the right to decide for itself. We're sticking to that principle, and we do hope that all of the other countries that signed that document do the same".NATO Secretary General Rasmussen: Ukraine-EU Association Agreement is beneficial for Russia as well, Interfax-Ukraine (28 November 2013) Rasmussen stated on 3 December "I strongly condemn the excessive use of police forces we have witnessed in Kyiv. I would expect all NATO partners, including Ukraine, to live up to fundamental democratic principles including freedom of assembly and freedom of expression".Rasmussen hopes Ukraine lives up to democratic principles, Interfax-Ukraine (3 December 2013)
On 3 December, a meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO member states issued a statement condemning "the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Ukraine" and requested that "all parties [...] refrain from provocations and violence." The assembled ministers "urge Ukraine, as the holder of the Chairmanship in Office of the OSCE, to fully abide by its international commitments and to uphold the freedom of expression and assembly. We urge the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue and launch a reform process." Furthermore, "Our [NATO–Ukraine] partnership will continue on the basis of the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law."NATO Newsroom (Statement). NATO Foreign Ministers' statement on Ukraine. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013. OSCE — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović stated on 2 December her concern of the amount of violence used against the media during the demonstrations.OSCE concerned by violence against journalists in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (2 December 2013) Council of Europe — CoE Committee on prevention of torture (CPT) found a deliberate ill-treatment during apprehension of protesters of Euromaidan.Council of Europe anti-torture Committee publishes findings of recent visits to Ukraine. CoE Committee on prevention of torture website. 13 January 2015
States – Foreign Minister Julie Bishop urged (on 12 December 2013) the Ukrainian authorities to exercise utmost restraint with regard to the protests, to ensure Ukraine's international commitments to the freedoms of assembly and expression are fully upheld, and "to listen to the voices and aspirations of the Ukrainian people".Australia calls on Ukrainian authorities to listen to voices of people, Interfax-Ukraine (12 December 2013) – President Rosen Plevneliev advised (on 29 November 2013) Ukrainian politicians to "listen to the voice of the people," referring to large protests against the decision in Ukraine. – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made an official statement on 30 November, "Canada strongly condemns the deplorable use of violence today by Ukrainian authorities against peaceful protesters in Independence Square. These demonstrators simply want a closer association with the European Union. Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental tenets of any truly democratic country. We call upon the Government of Ukraine to respect and indeed protect the rights of its citizens to express their opinions freely, consistent with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe principles. Canada stands with the people of Ukraine to build a society based on freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law."
On 4 December, Foreign Minister Baird met with "opposition officials and civil society representatives" while in Kyiv for the OSCE security group summit and stated the Canadian government is "engaged here because Ukraine matters, because Canada believes in the values of the Ukrainian people and we want to do all we can to support them in their aspirations. [...] We believe the decision represents a significant lost opportunity in Ukraine's path towards strengthened democratic development and economic prosperity", concluding that Canada is "committed to work with the people of Ukraine in its democratic development and that's a long-term commitment." Baird also reaffirmed that the Canadian government would send "two dozen" election observers to the 15 December repeat elections to the Verkhovna Rada. On 5 December, before leaving Kyiv, John Baird visited the Euromaidan protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
While in Pretoria to view the lying in state of Nelson Mandela on 11 December, Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement condemning the actions of the Berkut against the Euromaidan protesters early that morning as "undemocratic and excessive" and "particularly troubling". In the statement, Harper said "Canada and the international community expect Ukrainian authorities to respect and protect the rights of its citizens, including the right to express their opinions freely", adding "Canada stands with the Ukrainian people during this difficult time and we will continue to forcefully oppose all efforts to repress their rights and freedoms", concluding that the Canadian government "and like minded allies will be monitoring developments closely and considering all options at our disposal."
– Foreign Ministry, on behalf of the Government, released a press release stating "deep concern about the situation in Ukraine" while also deploring the "acts of violence that have taken place in the last couple of days. In the same press statement, Colombia urged the Government of Ukraine to "guarantee security, human rights, and the fundamental liberties of its citizens". – Chancellor Angela Merkel commented on 27 November "The EU and Germany have to talk to Russia. The Cold War is over".Merkel criticises Russia on eve of Vilnius summit, EUobserver (27 November 2013) At the 28–29 November 2013 EU summit, where originally it was planned that the Association Agreement would be signed on 29 November 2013,) Merkel remarked to President Yanukovych "We see you here, but we expected more". Foreign minister Guido Westerwelle stated on 2 December the huge rallies showed "the heart of Ukrainian people beats in a European way".Opposition on offensive in protests against Ukraine President Yanukovych, Deutsche Welle (2 December 2013)
On 18 December, the day after a financial agreement between Ukraine and Russia was signed, Merkel stated "The offer remains on the table" and the new Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated "It is utterly scandalous how Russia used Ukraine's economic problems for its own ends, as well as to prevent the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU... Of course, violent actions of the Ukrainian security forces against peaceful demonstrators were also scandalous".Ukraine should not be forced to choose between EU and Russia – Merkel, Interfax-Ukraine (18 December 2013)New German foreign minister criticizing Russia for pressure on Ukraine – media, Interfax-Ukraine (18 December 2013)
On 4 February 2014, Steinmeier said in an interview with ARD that if the Ukrainian authorities do not find a political solution to the crisis "I think we must now show sanctions as a threat [against Ukraine]".German foreign minister threatens sanctions against Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (4 February 2014) – On 5 December, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Zsolt Németh decried the violence, especially that committed by state authorities, and maintained that no state has the right to intervene in the affairs of other states. – The Israeli embassy in Ukraine issued a statement, "Israel highly appraises the Ukrainian government's fight against anti-Semitism and hopes that it will strongly condemn and prevent such attacks." – Foreign Affairs Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted: "Disturbing news from Ukraine, I condemn police violence against proeuropean demonstration in Kyiv." – President Dalia Grybauskaitė said (11 December) that "The application of force against peaceful protesters in Kyiv is unjustifiable. It is a direct responsibility of Ukraine's political leadership", Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius stated (10 December) "On behalf of the Lithuanian Government, I express concern to the Government of Ukraine over the situation in the country with military forces drawn to the centre of Kyiv and the pending threat of the use of force against unarmed civilians, also I urge the Prime Minister of Ukraine to take a responsible consideration of the situation and start a dialogue with the opposition as soon as possible to reach a peaceful solution"