LINE NOT TO BE TRESPASSED

The Ukrainian government has been balancing between the two sides, out of concerns that the point of no return would be passed.

Ukraine's prosecutor-general has opened a criminal case against the capital's police chief, who ordered to violently disperse the pro-EU crowds in Kiev on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media reported Wednesday that the government has ordered deploying more anti-riot forces from other cities to Kiev.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych called European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to seek resumption of negotiations on the association agreement with the EU.

He also said in an interview with Ukraine's main television channels that he remained committed to European integration and wanted to negotiate for better terms for the fragile Ukrainian economy.

But the question is whether the pro-EU protesters would trust him and his electorate in the east would agree with such stances, experts said.

According to Suzdaltsev, the main task for Ukraine's political elite is to preserve the country's independence and make the state survive.

"Ukraine remains a country in transit. They have to start everything from the very beginning each time," he said.