Kiev is bracing for rival mass protests between pro and anti-government demonstrators for the first time in a deepening political crisis over closer ties with the EU or Russia.
The EU has announced it is putting 'on hold' a partnership agreement with the Ukrainian government in the absence of a commitment to sign it.
Street protests started after the 21 November decision by President Viktor Yanukovych to walk away from a trade pact with the EU at the last minute and seek closer ties with Russia.
The EU said today it was putting talks on hold on the trade and co-operation agreement because Kiev had not committed to signing one and because the arguments being made by the Kiev government had "no grounds in reality".
EU enlargement chief Stefan Fuele said on Twitter that he had told Ukraine's first deputy prime minister Serhiy Arbuzov last week that further discussion on the trade agreement was conditional on a clear commitment by Kiev to sign it.
He had not heard back from the Ukrainian government and as a result, work on the agreement was "on hold", he said.
Police violence on 30 November against what was initially a pro-EU demonstration shocked Ukrainians, igniting deep-seated wider anger over corruption and sleaze.
Anti-government protesters show no sign of backing down and vowed to continue demonstrating for a third week in a row.
"We are sure that we realise our ideas, we understand that we stand here to the end. And this end must be our winning," one protester Nazar told Reuters.
"We have been with Russia all of last century and we know it is not the best variant for us, you know. We know these people from USSR, some of them are in Russia now and in Ukraine also, some of them are still here and they are working against Ukraine, you know, like a country, against people," said another demonstrator, Yuri.
US Senator John McCain met Ukrainian opposition leaders in Kiev and voiced support for protesters camped out for weeks in the capital, a move sure to anger Moscow for what it sees as Western meddling in its backyard.
Mr McCain is the latest in a string of European and American political figures to tour the sprawling protest camp set up behind tall barricades - prompting Russia to accuse the West of excessive involvement.
Ukraine which has serious economic problems has been seeking deals from both Moscow and Brussels but has come under intense pressure from Moscow to abandon the talks with the EU and opt for closer ties with Russia instead.
Brussels disputes Kiev's assertions that it needs €20 billion of EU aid to offset the cost of adapting to the agreement in the face of Russian opposition.
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