Even as hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters overflowed Kiev’s Independence Square demanding the government step down for backing away from a deal with the European Union, an agreement between Brussels and Ukraine slipped further away.

The EU official in charge of enlarging the bloc, Stefan Fule, wrote on his twitter account that the two parties were growing “further and further apart.”  So the EU broke off talks with President Viktor Yanukovich’s government, which seems hell-bent on strengthen political and economic ties with Moscow.  Some see Yanukovich as trying to play both sides.

“I don't think Yanukovych will sign the accords,” said a senior EU diplomat, who added, “It's blackmail actually.  He's saying he will only sign if he gets a lot of money.  He's trying to maneuver between, to get money or concessions.  He's trying to avoid reforms, but the EU agreements are all about reforms.”

And that’s deepening the political crisis at home.  This weekend was supposed to see rival pro- and anti-government rallies in Kiev, but Yanukovich’s critics clearly ruled the day with a massive presence.  Two United States Senators, Republican John McCain and Democrat Chris Murphy, actually visited to egg on the crowd’s anti-Kremlin campaign.