Updated | Opposition leader won’t attend Yanukovych state dinner

Adds PN statement

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil will decline invites to a state dinner and concert for Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych, in what is a symbolic protest at the quashing of pro-EU protests in the capital of Kiev.

Busuttil however said he would meet Yanukoych in his official capacity to express the Opposition's concerns in person.

Yanukovych: I will meet him to espress the Opp's concerns on Ukraine in person. But I will decline invites to state dinners and concert.

— Simon Busuttil (@SimonBusuttil) December 5, 2013

The PN said that Busuttil will be conveying the opposition's disapproval of the Ukrainian government's actions during Yanukovych's visit. Moreover, the PN leader will boycott the official events in "solidarity" with the Ukrainian people and civil society.

The Nationalist Party today condemned the Ukrainian government's violent crackdown on demonstrators and expressed solidarity with the opposition in the Eastern European country.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the PN expressed solidarity with the "Ukrainian people and civil society" and condemned the violent crackdown on protestors by the Ukrainian security forces.

"The Nationalist Party condemns President Viktor Yanukovych's government to resort to violence against the Ukrainian people which was exercising its freedom

of speech, freedom of association and freedom of assembly."

The PN also said that it was "disappointed" by Yanukovych's failure to sign the trade deal with the EU and backed the Ukrainian opposition's stand to have the deal signed.

It also called on the EU to establish a mediation party to listen to the Ukrainian people's "legitimate aspirations" including the safeguard of the people's fundamental rights.  

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Tuesday held a teleconference with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso to discuss Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych's forthcoming visit to Malta on the 9 and 10 December.

"The EU President reiterated the Commission's view that Malta should host the Ukrainian President, which is being seen as a strategic visit and of significant importance," the OPM said in a statement. 

Muscat said he will be conveying the common EU position which specifies that Europe's door remains open to Ukraine, but that it should finally be the Ukrainian's people's choice to forge ahead with EU membership.

"There will also be an unequivocal message against any type of violence," the OPM said after a wave of protests in Kiev at the U-turn effected by Yanukovych on EU accession, were quashed violently by riot squads.

President Yanukovich's visit will be the first in a EU member state since Ukraine froze the signing of a co-operation agreement with the European Union.

"Prime Minister Joseph Muscat believes that the Ukrainian people are sending clear signals to the Ukrainian President that the way forward for Ukraine is for closer cooperation and eventual membership in the EU," the government said.

Thousands of Ukrainians remain on the streets in Kiev demanding the resignation of the country's government as well as Yanukovych.