President Yanukovych has lost legitimacy by attacking the protesters

With violence in Ukraine escalating today, resulting in one confirmed death and with two others reported, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group Leader has called on the EU to consider sanctions on Ukraine.

He said “President Viktor Yanukovych has yet to realise that while the EU offered free trade cooperation and association – he may yet end up with the opposite – an asset freeze and sanctions. “

He continued “This violence follows two months of peaceful protests. The European Union must extend the offer of mediation but at the same time make it absolutely clear to the regime of Viktor Yanukovych that the European Union is prepared to go all the way and impose sanctions. If sharp words from the EU fall on deaf ears and have little or no effect then targeted EU sanctions should be introduced to force Yanukovych to stop the crack-down on peaceful protestors”.

He concluded “President Yanukovych has lost all credibility now his legitimacy is at stake”