Ukraine's Political Crisis -Timeline

 

Nov. 21, 2013 — President Viktor Yanukovych’s government announces it is abandoning an agreement to strengthen ties with the European Union and is instead seeking closer cooperation with Moscow. Protesters take to the streets. 

Nov. 30,2013 Images of protestors bloodied by police truncheons spread quickly and galvanise public support for the demonstrations. 

Dec 01.2013 -A protest attracts around 300,000 people on Kiev's Independence Square, known as the Maidan, the largest since the 2004 Orange Revolution. Activists seize Kiev City Hall. 

Dec. 17 ,2013 - Russian President Vladimir Putin announces Moscow will buy $ 15 Billion worth of Ukrainian government bonds and cut the price Ukrainians pay for Russian natural gas. 

Jan. 22, 2014 - Two protestors die during a confrontation between police and demonstrators manning barricades. 

Jan. 28,2014 - In concessions to the opposition, the Prime minister Resigns and parliament repeals harsh anti- protest laws that set off the violence. 

Feb16,2014 - Opposition activists end their occupation of Kiev City Hall in exchange for the release of all 234 jailed protesters. 

Feb18,2014 - Protesters attack police lines and set fires outside parliament after it stalls on a constitutional reform to limit presidential powers. Riot police respond to the violence by trying to push protesters off Independence Square.Eight die and hundreds are injured. 

Feb. 20,2014 - Hours after a truce is announced, violence resumes, with government snipers shooting protesters from the roofs.64 deaths occur on this day. 

Feb 21,2014 -Under a European Mediated Plan, protest leaders and Viktor Yanukovych agree to form a new government and hold an early election. Parliament slashes his powers and votes to free his rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, from prison.Viktor Yanukovych flees Kiev after protesters take control.

 Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine, speaks in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday Feb. 22, 2014

Feb 22,2014 Parliament votes to remove ViktorYanukovych and hold new elections.Yulia Tymoshenko is freed and addresses tens of thousands on the Maidan. 

Feb 23,2014 - Ukraine's Parliament assigns presidential powers to its new speaker, Oleksandr Turchinov, an ally of Yulia Tymoshenko. The new authorities ask the West for loans to avoid an imminent default. Pro-Russia protesters start rallying against the new authorities in Crimea, where Russia has a major naval base

Feb 24,2014 - Ukraine’s Interim Govt draws up a warrant for ViktorYanukovych’s arrest. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev derides the new leaders in Kiev as “Kalashnikov-toting people in black masks.” 

Feb 26,2014 - Leaders of Ukraine’s protest movement propose legislator Arseniy Yatsenyuk as prime minister. In Moscow, Vladimir Putin orders major military exercises  just across the border. 

Feb 27,2014 -Masked gunmen seize regional parliament and government buildings in Crimea. Ukraine’s government, with strong backing from the West, pledges to prevent a national breakup. Viktor Yanukovych is granted refugee in Russia. 

Feb 28,2014 -Ukraine says Russian troops have taken up positions  around strategic locations on the Crimean peninsula. Ukraine’s parliament adopts a resolution demanding that Russia halt steps it says are aimed against Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Oleksandr Turchinov says he has put armed forces on full readiness because of the threat of “potential aggression.”

March 01,2014 - Russian troops take over Crimea without firing a shot. The Kiev government and its Western supporters are powerless to react. U.S. President Barack Obama calls Vladimir Putin to demand the troops’ withdrawal. 

March 02,2014 - Ukraine appeals for international help, fearing a wider Russian invasion. Supporters on both sides take to the streets of Ukrainian cities and of Moscow. The U.S. says it believes Russia has more than 6,000 troops in Crimea. The Group of Seven suspends preparations for June’s G8 summit in Russia. 

March 03,2014 - Pro-Russian troops control a ferry terminal on the easternmost tip of Crimea, adding to fears that Moscow is planning to bring in even more troops.

March 04,2014 -Russia tells UN that Viktor Yanukovych requested troops in Crimea.
Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of Russian troops participating in military exercises near Ukraine’s border to return to their bases as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was on his way to Kiev