Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday urged the Obama administration “to use every diplomatic means at its disposal” to punish Ukraine officials involved in acts of violence amid continuing unrest in Kiev, the capital city.
Mr. Rubio, Florida Republican and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, weighed in after fiery overnight clashes between protesters and riot police killed dozens.
The violence appeared to mark a turning point in unrest between the activistis and President Viktor F. Yanukovych’s government over its recent financial turns away from the European Union and toward Russia.
“Twenty five years after the people in the then-captive nations of Eastern Europe changed world history, we again see Ukrainians taking to the streets to demand nothing more than the right to independently chart the future course of their nation and a better life for themselves and their children,” Mr. Rubio said. “Ukrainians have made clear that they want the opportunity to be governed free of corruption and Russian pressure. I strongly condemn the Yanukovych government resorting to violence rather than dialogue and compromise with the opposition.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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