The EU says it is putting on hold work on a key trade agreement with Ukraine, saying the government's arguments have "no grounds in reality". Protesters have taken to the streets in support of the agreement, which was rejected by the government.
US Senator John McCain met with the leaders of the Ukrainian opposition tonight in Kiev.
Senator McCain had talks with Vitaly Klitschko, Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Oleh Tyahnibok to "reiterate" the US's "commitment to a peaceful resolution" following large protests.
He called for the democratic right to protest peacefully to be respected. He said:
"Ukraine is a western, a European nation and of course none of us want any violence. These are peaceful demonstrations and we argue strongly that no violence should be imposed by anyone. This is their democratic right."
Democrats and Republicans have condemned the Ukrainian government's measures during weeks of protests by hundreds of thousands of people over President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to scrap a trade deal with the European Union and steer Ukraine closer to Russia.
There is an urgent need for de-escalation in Ukraine as President Yanukovich tries to calm a country bitterly divided over years of history.
Ukraine's political and economic landscape is stuck between old Soviet masters in Russia and the democratising ideals offered by the EU.