EU Joins Ukrainian Crisis Round Table

Attempts to mediate the political crisis in Ukraine gathered pace Friday when several key EU envoys arrived in Kiev for a high-level meeting with the principle actors in Ukraine's current political crisis: outgoing President Leonid Kuchma and the two rival presidential candidates, Viktor Yanukovych and Viktor Yushchenko.

The arrival of EU foreign policy chief Solana and Polish President Kwasniewski is just the latest in the increasing efforts by external officials to mediate in the crisis over the disputed weekend presidential vote.

According to German public broadcaster ARD, a recount of the votes has been suggested as a possible solution to the stand-off. But calling for new elections, Yushchenko has reportedly already rejected the proposal.

Also at Friday's meeting were Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Boris Gryzlov, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament and a trusted lieutenant of Vladimir Putin, and Jan Kubis, the current head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Kuchma's spokeswoman, Olena Gromitska, cited her boss as saying at the start of negotiations between the two rivals: "Only talks can resolve the difficult situation that was created after the election. It can be resolved through compromise."

Can the West play a role?

However, it was unclear how much influence the European envoys would have, as Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was still claiming victory in the face of mass public demonstrations against him, lashed out at the West for backing an opposition that was engaged in "anti-democratic and illegal acts," in a reference to the massive street protests that have paralyzed central Kiev since Sunday.

He told thousands of supporters in the streets, many of whom had been brought in by train from his eastern power base: "Dear friends, together we must do everything so that an unconstitutional coup in Ukraine does not happen."

Attempts by international dignitaries to mediate in the crisis began Thursday when Polish Nobel peace prize winner Lech Walesa arrived in the Ukrainian capital on a surprise peace mission. "It is all going in the right direction," said the former Polish president and Solidarity trade union leader after meeting both self-declared presidents.

Nations the world over have slowly begun to split into camps over Sunday's vote. Britain added its voice to Western nations refusing to recognize Yanukovych's win but China joined Russia and authoritarian Belarus in saying that the election was fair.

Russia claims tensions exacerbated by EU

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent geopolitical tensions soaring Thursday when he accused Europe of stoking street discontent in Ukraine by tacitly backing the protesters. At a summit meeting in the Netherlands, Putin firmly told EU leaders: "We have no moral right to push a major European country to mass mayhem."

For his part Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, told a press conference: "The election did not meet the international standards. Therefore the EU is not able to accept the results."

The battle for Ukraine has brought back echoes of the Cold War stand-off between Moscow and the West, with Russia refusing to see its allies lose power in a country that serves as a buffer between it and an expanding European Union, which Moscow views with growing distrust. Analysts say the Kremlin further fears that a win by the pro-West opposition in Ukraine could prompt other former Soviet republics to rise against pro-Moscow rule.

That shift towards a pro-Western government in Ukraine was given more credence on Thursday when Ukraine's Supreme Court gave the opposition a glimmer of hope by delaying publication of results of the disputed vote.

Court holds fire on decision

The court ruled that poll results announced by the central election commission on Wednesday, handing victory to Yanukovych, the Kremlin-backed prime minister, could not be published until it reviewed the opposition’s appeal which alleged widespread vote-rigging. The Western-leaning, nationalist opposition is demanding the vote results be annulled in several eastern pro-Russia regions or for a brand new election to be called.

Official publication would make the outcome final and pave the way for Yanukovych's inauguration as president. The ruling party vented fury at the announcement that opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko's claim will be heard Monday.

"The election took place. The central electoral commission recognized it and issued a final result. No one, even the Supreme Court, has the right to annul it," argued Yanukovych spokesman Sergei Tigipko.

Protests continue across Ukraine

Meanwhile protests escalated in Ukraine itself on the first official day of civil disobedience as opposition leaders stepped up the pressure by calling their supporters to blockade government buildings.

Orange opposition flags hung out of the central bank building and a deputy economy minister became the first official to resign over the vote that he said was turning his country into a European outcast.

Tens of thousands of orange-clad people answered Thursday's call for the demonstration of people power, taking over the part of the capital that houses the main government buildings.

A crowd of thousands gathered in front of the government building, chanting "We are many, strong, we will not be beaten!" Hundreds of Yanukovych supporters who had gathered there earlier in the day had left, abandoning their tents.

Other opposition members gathered in front of the parliament and presidential administration. "We will win! Ukrainians have never been so united," said Vladimir, 23, who has braved the bitter cold winter weather for three days. "We will stay in Kiev until Yushchenko is president," he said, adding "We will fight only by legal means, we don't want any violence."

Teachers in the western opposition bastion city of Lviv went on strike as thousands of students boycotted classes in hundreds of schools. Yushchenko's camp also announced plans to block off major roads -- including those bordering Russia and Poland.