As the potential threat of civil war continues to grip Ukraine, can EU involvement via Catherine Ashton's visit this week contribute to a peaceful resolution?

Leaders seek solution to Ukraine unrest

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16487552/n001-140206-001-en.srt

After two months of protests, opponents  of Ukrainian President Yanukovych

refuse to give up.  They demand urgent constitutional reform

and an end to the brutal repression.  The EU has condemned the violence.

There is still great concern  about the situation on the ground

those who have committed violence  are brought to justice.

Late January, an MEP delegation  travelled to Kiev to assess the situation

and hold talks with the government  and the pro-European opposition.

Since returning, they've urged  president Yanukovych to stop the arrests

I think it is unbelievable and unacceptable  that in Europe today

we still have in one country  death squads, torture,

killed or left behind wounded.  This absolutely has to stop.

despite the resignation  of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov last week.

Brutality by the anti-protest police,  the Berkut, has radicalised the opposition.

MEPs want to put pressure  on the current regime.

They've called for urgent action  from the EU and states.

We have to prepare  a number of target sanctions

against the regime and against  individual members of the regime.

I personally am thinking of three things:  banning them from travelling to Europe,

restricting their visas and also,  most importantly, freezing their assets.

It's unlikely these measures will be enough.

Ukraine has agreed to a 15-billion-dollar  trade deal on bonds with Russia

Aid from the West cannot match  Russia's proposal.

MEPs are calling on the EU, the US,  the IMF and the World Bank

to produce a long-term  financial aid package for the country.