Putin: Trade deals with Ukraine's ex-PM Azarov will stay

Russia's President Vladimir Putin says all agreements reached with Ukrainian Prime Minister Azarov would remain in place, despite his resignation.

Mykola Azarov had offered to step down as prime minister to create "social and political compromise".

Demonstrations began in Independence Square in the capital, Kiev, after Mr Yanukovych pulled out of a planned trade deal with the EU last November in favour of a $15bn (£9bn) bailout from Russia.

Speaking at an EU-Russia summit, Mr Putin said: "We had certain understandings with Prime Minister Azarov. Specifically that the loan would be taken, not only for the current public outlays, but also for structural changes."