Yanukovych says Maidan protesters should lay down arms – Klitschko

07:06, 19.02.2014 1 min read

UDAR Party leader Vitali Klitschko says that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych inadequately assesses the situation in Kyiv.

"Yanukovych reacts to the situation absolutely inadequately. All he's been talking about is that the leaders of the opposition should call on people on Maidan (Kyiv's Independence Square) to end the standoff and lay down arms," a statement on UDAR's Web site quotes Klitschko as saying on Wednesday night.

Klitschko says he has no idea about what arms the president meant, as "these are police forces that are violently shooting at protesters downtown Kyiv."

"This is what I suggest: authorities should immediately withdraw law enforcers and put an end to the bloody crackdown, as people continue to die. This is what I've told Yanukovych. Could talks be a solution while blood has been shed? But unfortunately he has no understanding of the situation," Klitschko said.

After a recent meeting with Yanukovych, Klitschko went to Maidan where the standoff between protesters and police is under way.