Ukraine’s president proposed an amnesty Friday for all protesters facing criminal charges in the country’s wave of massive anti-government demonstrations.

President Viktor Yanukovych made the offer at a round-table meeting that included three leaders of the opposition that has orchestrated more than three weeks of anti-government protests, flooding the streets of Kiev with hundreds of thousands of people.

There was no immediate reaction from the opposition figures, who earlier had said they were going to the meeting only to state their demands, including that the government resign and early parliamentary and presidential elections be held.

In another possible sign of progress, the deputy prime minister said that Ukraine wants to soon sign the agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the EU.

Yet this economically troubled nation of 46 million is deeply divided over the EU deal. Many people in eastern Ukraine, the country’s rural heartland, are against the protesters in Kiev and want the country to have closer economic ties with Russia.

 Անկախ