Leader of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction Oleksandr Yefremov has told EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton that the current government in Ukraine has no influence on radical citizens and that MPs from the Party of Regions faction are working "at gunpoint."

Yefremov met with Ashton on Monday, to discuss the current situation in Ukraine, the press service of the Party of Regions reported.

The meeting was also attended by MP Oleksandr Volkov, MP Yuriy Voropayev, Chairman of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid and Director of the European External Action Service Gunnar Wiegand.

Yefremov said that the Party of Regions faction decided to switch to opposition in connection with the situation in the country. At the same time, the faction leader said that pressure is being exerted on MPs from the Party of Regions and their families, and that they are being threatened.

"The situation in the country is very difficult, and as the opposition we have to work 'at gunpoint'. I do not think this is democracy," the lawmaker said.

He also said that the current regime has no influence on radical citizens, whereas the main task at present is to preserve peace in the country.

The Party of Regions has admitted its mistakes and urges the current authorities not to repeat them, he said.

Ashton told Yefremov that the current issues which Ukraine is facing should be resolved as soon as possible and promised the EU's practical assistance in this matter. She also welcomed the Regions Party's decision to acknowledge their mistakes.

MP Voropayev, for his part, told Ashton that the Party of Regions faction is ready to work on the development of the state, but calls for removing radicalism from the streets first.