Ukraine's Euromaidan Revolution: Gaining Steam or Self Flagellation?

Thousands of protesters besieged government buildings in Ukraine's capital on Monday to demand the ouster of the prime minister and his Cabinet, as anger at the president's decision to ditch a deal for closer ties with the European Union gripped other parts of the country and threatened his rule.

Local officials in western Ukraine have openly sided with the protesters, while the major national television channels have scaled back their support for the government. In Parliament, President Viktor Yanukovych's party has suffered defections, potentially putting the government at risk of losing a no-confidence vote that could come as early as Tuesday.

With protesters blocking entrances to the Cabinet and central bank buildings, Yanukovych called European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and asked if he could send a delegation to discuss some aspects of the association agreement, Barroso said in a statement. Barroso said he agreed. The commission refused to say when such a meeting might take place.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said that the EU dialogue with Ukraine was being put back on track with the participation of Ukraine's first deputy prime minister, Serhiy Arbuzov, and that it included possible financial support.

The protests began more than a week ago, but were galvanized when riot police used force to disperse demonstrators early Saturday. A protest rally the next day drew hundreds of thousands, who filled a huge central square.

It was unclear whether the opposition would get the 226 votes it needs in the 450-seat parliament to oust Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his Cabinet. The opposition controls about 170 seats, but independents hold 35 more and the governing Party of Regions was shedding support. At least three of its lawmakers quit in protest and one of them, Inna Bohoslovska, previously a vocal government supporter, called on other legislators to leave the party. A top Agriculture Ministry official also resigned Monday.

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Sean at Sean's Russia Blog worries Ukrainians are setting themselves up with unrealistic expectations as to what it means to be in Europe. With good reason I would say.  My personal experience is there are a lot of Ukrainians who build their expectations up unrealistically and then when reality fails to match up, a deep cynicism and unwillingness to attempt the problem again.  Or a rejection of the possibility.  I hope Ukrainians do not do this with regards to the European Union.  They will not be transformed overnight into Germany.  Or even Poland.  This is going to be a long, hard slog.  Signing the agreement is one step on a 100 km road.