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Poland's foreign minister warns Ukrainian protester to agree to negotiations or 'You will all be dead'

The minister stated the protests could provoke martial law

Rose Troup Buchanan
Friday 21 February 2014 13:06 EST
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Poland's foreign minister (left) Radoslaw Sikorski helped with negotiations
Poland's foreign minister (left) Radoslaw Sikorski helped with negotiations

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Poland's Foreign Minister has been caught on camera appearing to tell a Ukrainian protester to support the deal because otherwise, "you'll have martial law, you'll have the army. You will all be dead."

The exclusive clip was filmed by ITV as Radoslaw Sikorski left negotiations, which had been struggling to come to an agreement as Kiev itself has been ripped apart by violent demonstrations and seemingly brutal police retaliation.

Asked by ITV News Europe Editor James Mates if he had managed to convince the opposition Mr Sikorski appeared to reply: "I don't know."

In a further development, ITV's Europe Editor then tweeted he had had confirmation from Mr Sikorski that interior ministry troops were being readied.

Presdient Yanukovych has also bowed to pressure from the protesters, agreeing to a national unity government and to constitutional changes that will reduce the powers of the president. 

The talks and eventual agreement were mediated by EU foreign ministers such as Mr Sikorski, a former journalist turned politician.

The demonstrations have been marked by brutality as thousands took to the streets in escalating violence, which ha seen the Ukrainian health ministry put the number of people killed at 77, although opposition figures agree the figure is over 100.

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