Ukraine opposition leaders sign deal with government

• theguardian.com, Friday 21 February 2014 17.40 GMT

Vitali Klitschko, leader of Ukraine's Udar opposition party, shakes hands with President Viktor Yanukovych after the signing of the agreement in Kiev, Ukraine. Photograph: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images

Ukraine's president, Viktor Yanukovich, and three opposition leaders have signed an agreement intended to end a crisis that sparked bloody clashes between protesters and police on the streets of the capital, Kiev.

The deal sets out plans to hold early presidential elections, form a national unity government and revert to the 2004 constitution, removing some of the president's powers. Yanukovich did not smile during a signing ceremony lasting several minutes in the presidential headquarters, but he did shake hands with the opposition.

The deal was also signed by two European Union foreign ministers who helped broker it in tortuous negotiations that lasted more than 30 hours. "This agreement is not the end of the process. It's the beginning of the process," the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said after the signing.