Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov on Friday issued a statement on the situation in the country. Interfax-Ukraine is providing its full text:

"SCM has expressed its position in the first days of the worsening of the situation in Kyiv. And I, as an SCM stakeholder, fully share it.

In these days, many people want to know my personal attitude. My position is the following: Ukraine and the president have walked the European road for over the last three-and-a-half years. And very much has been done over this period.

The [association] agreement was not signed in Vilnius. And everybody asked a question - what happened? Did Ukraine take a pause? Did Ukraine stop? Or did Ukraine choose another road? Everyone wants to have clarity. People started searching for answers to these questions and went to the Maidan.

The fact that peaceful people came to peaceful rallies indicates that Ukraine is a free and democratic country. And Ukraine will not swerve from this road. And it's great.

But the fact that people suffered in these days is unacceptable. I am confident that now it is a difficult moment for our country, and it is very important to have a cool head and a balanced approach. In short, common sense should win.

I am for a strong, independent and united Ukraine. We are one country, and it cannot be divided.

I am for the negotiating table. Politicians, the authorities, the opposition and the moral leaders of the country should sit at the negotiating table and take the decision of which we will be proud. Again, proud, not ashamed. The decision from which every Ukrainian and Ukraine will benefit in the short, medium and long term.

I would call this table a table of peace, compromise, and the future of our country.

And let the politicians lose their ratings at this table. But the most important thing is that Ukraine's rating goes up."