The European Union has said it hopes that the readiness of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to hold talks with three ex-presidents and the opposition will reduce tension, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said in Brussels on Monday.

"We heard that the president is ready to hold talks with the three former heads of state and representatives of the opposition. We hope that this is genuine and meaningful and leads to a reducing of tensions and the fulfilling of the aspirations of citizens," he said.

Earlier Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych supported the idea of first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk to hold a national roundtable to discuss the crisis.