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Feb 21 7:00 AM

Ukraine deal: How do key players see it?

by Janet Weinstein @Janet_Weinstein

The streets were quiet in Kiev on Friday, as the country digests a deal that could end the crisis, for now.   

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and three opposition leaders have agreed to a six-point settlement that promises a presidential election by the end of the year.

The deal came after all-night talks were brokered by foreign ministers from Poland, Germany and France and a Russian special envoy. 

Inside Story took a look at how each key player sees the potential breakthrough. 

Ukraine government

Viktor Yanukovich.
Sergei Suplinsky/AFP/Getty Images
Today, I am fulfilling my duty before the people, before Ukraine and before God in the name of saving the nation, in the name of preserving people’s lives, in the name of peace and calm of our land.

Viktor Yanukovich

President of Ukraine

Ukraine opposition

Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Jochen Zick/Getty Images
We need to act and to deliver real steps. We need to go back to the constitution, to pass the special bill, to pass an amnesty law and to move forward, step by step. People would never trust in any kind of signature. People would trust in the real action.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk

Ukrainian opposition leader, Batkivshchyna

Vitali Klitschko.
Dmitry Korotaev/Kommersant Photo/Getty Images
The priority today is to stop the bloodshed. This is the first aim. Our second aim is to do everything possible to punish those guilty of these events. Third, to do everything possible to prevent the country from splitting up.

Vitali Klitschko

Ukrainian opposition leader, UDAR

Oleh Tyahnibok.
Sergei Chuzavkov/AP
The deal should stand only if there are guarantees that the present interior minister and prosecutor-general are not included in any interim government.

Oleh Tyahnibok

Ukrainian opposition leader, Svoboda

Russia

Vladimir Lukin.
Alexei Nikolsky/Presidential Photo Service/RIA-Novosti/AP
Dialogue will definitely continue. But who will continue it, how and in what sequence – that is a technical and diplomatic matter that will be discussed.

Vladimir Lukin

Russian special envoy to Ukraine

Poland

Radoslaw Sikorski.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
I’m satisfied that it is the best agreement ... Let us not forget what this crisis started with. It started with the disappointed hopes of millions of Ukrainians who wanted for their country a closer relationship with the European Union.

Radoslaw Sikorski

Polish foreign minister

France

Laurent Fabius.
Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty Images
We discussed all subjects during these negotiations. It was done in an extremely difficult atmosphere, because there were dozens dead and the country is on the verge of civil war.

Laurent Fabius

French foreign minister

Germany

Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
We’re grateful and happy at the same time. We were able to contribute, to settle the situation or, better, pave the way now for a political solution, which is now in the hands of the Ukrainians.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier

German foreign minister

Maidan street protests

Maidan protesters in Kiev’s Independence Square.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
We have to pressure (Yanukovich) every day to do what was agreed. The West won’t help us with this. Maidan must put pressure on him.

Anatoly

Maidan protester

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