According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, "President Viktor Yanukovych met with opposition leaders on Saturday and offered them concessions, including the possible resignation of his government, in a bid to end two months of antigovernment protests.
Mr. Yanukovych's control over parts of the country has slipped in recent days, as demonstrators in regional capitals in western and central Ukraine seized administration buildings. In the capital, protesters are occupying the central square and parts of roads leading to it, as well as a ministry and a city government building".
Mr. Yanukovych's control over parts of the country has slipped in recent days, as demonstrators in regional capitals in western and central Ukraine seized administration buildings. In the capital, protesters are occupying the central square and parts of roads leading to it, as well as a ministry and a city government building".
Late on Saturday, hundreds of protesters stormed Ukrainian House, a convention center around 100 meters from the main square, where they say riot police were hiding in preparation for an attack. Amid freezing temperatures, police inside fought back with stun grenades and sprayed water from fire hoses, as protesters smashed windows and launched fireworks. Clashes halted early on Sunday, after the attacking protesters agreed to negotiations with the riot police inside the convention center.
At the three-hour meeting on Saturday with the heads of the three main opposition parties, Mr. Yanukovych offered a raft of concessions, including dissolving his government if one of the opposition leaders, former Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, accepts the post of prime minister, Justice Minister Olena Lukash said after talks. Mr. Klitschko could become deputy prime minister for humanitarian affairs, Ms. Lukash added.
Speaking on the main square, opposition leaders presented Mr. Yanukovych's offer, the first major concessions since protests began, as a victory for protesters. But they said it wasn't enough, and that they wanted to see action from Mr. Yanukovych to back up his words, including the freeing of detained protesters.
"Do we believe him?" asked nationalist leader Oleh Tyahn "No!" answered the crowd. The crowd largely endorsed the opposition's call to push for better terms.
Still, Mr. Yanukovych's offer Saturday marks a significant change of tack after weeks of largely ignoring protesters and labeling them as "radicals."
Protesters distrust many leading figures in the political opposition, who did little to overhaul the country's economy and corrupt governance when they held power in the years before Mr. Yanukovych was elected in 2010. On Saturday night, opposition leader and former foreign minister Mr. Yatsenyuk was roundly booed by the crowd when he mentioned taking control of government.
As part of a package of concessions offered, Mr. Yanukovych's aides indicated he might be willing to reinstate the 2004 constitution, under which he would wield less power. The two sides could also consider amendments to legislation passed earlier this month that severely restricts dissent, they said. The opposition has said it wanted the laws repealed.
Mr. Yanukovych also offered amnesty to all people who have protested since the crisis began, on condition they free the buildings and streets they are occupying, said Andriy Portnov, deputy head of the presidential administration. And detained protesters could be released if demonstrators withdraw from the street that has seen the most violent clashes in recent days some 200 meters from the main square, he said.
The aides didn't mention another key demand of protesters: the punishment of officials responsible for the police crackdowns.
The opposition said it would hold further talks with Mr. Yanukovych and push for more concessions, urging protesters to maintain pressure on the president by coming to protests across the country in greater numbers.
