The European Union is ready to assign its senior officials as intermediaries in crisis settlement negotiations between the Ukrainian authorities and the opposition, opposition UDAR party leader Vitali Klitschko said after he had met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, European Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton.

"We have discussed the Ukrainian situation. Most importantly, real steps towards settling the crisis must be taken so that the situation does not run out of control. I said the parliament must take a step within its power first, pass an act reinstating the 2004 constitution. That will help de-monopolize power in Ukraine," the UDAR press service quoted Klitschko as saying.

"As to the negotiations with President Yanukovych, considering the dishonesty of the authorities and their strange interpretations of the agreements, I believe that a third party should be a mediator; somebody has to see how the negotiations are progressing and keep record of every agreement and commitment. EU High Representative Mrs. Ashton assured [me] that Europe was prepared to delegate senior mediators to the negotiations between the opposition and the authorities," Klitschko said.