(17 Dec 2013) Backers of Viktor Yanukovych gathered in central Kiev on Tuesday to show their support for the Ukrainian president.
They have set up base in a park and square near the Ukrainian parliament building.
A rally on Sunday by government supporters that was touted as potentially bringing 200,000 to Kiev drew less than a tenth of that number, and some of the demonstrators admitted they'd been paid to come.
Yanukovych met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Moscow, vowing to bolster trade relations between the two countries.
Ukraine, which needs an estimated 10 billion US dollars in loans to keep its economy afloat and meet payment obligations, has been shuttling between Russia and the West for months in search of a better deal.
Russia has strongly opposed Ukraine's closer ties with the EU and has encouraged it to join a Moscow-led customs union.
Putin could also offer Ukraine a mix of credit, investment pledges and a discount on energy prices, particularly natural gas.
Ukrainian opposition leaders have promised more protests if Yanukovych signs any deal bringing the country closer to Moscow.
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