Russian FM Warns Ukraine 'Getting Out of Control'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

After another night of rioting in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the situation in the former Soviet Socialist Republic "is getting out of control."

Lavrov also blamed foreign powers for fueling the anti-government protests that have brought Ukraine to the brink of civil war.

Peaceful protesters blame the violence on radical rightwing agitators, or on angry youths said to be frustrated by the Ukrainian president's alleged refusal to negotiate in good faith with opposition movement leaders.

The EU--i.e. Germany--and the United States have supported the protests and the overall opposition in an obvious effort to pull Europe's largest country (in terms of land mass) out of Russia's orbit. Ukraine has historically been divided between its eastern- and western-leaning regions.

But there is growing concern abroad and among protesters themselves about the rising influence of radical rightwing groups that could end up dominating the opposition.

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Violence in Ukraine protests by reuters