US threatens Ukraine, says considers sanctions against the country.

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The US State Department said on Wednesday it is considering all options, including sanctions, toward Ukraine, where riot police moved against demonstrators overnight after weeks of protests against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.

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"All policy options, including sanctions, are on the table, in our view, but obviously that still is being evaluated," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, declining to specify what kinds of sanctions may be under consideration.

US warns Ukraine against military force on protesters

Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel warned Ukraine on Wednesday against using military force on protesters "in any fashion," and called for restraint.

In a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Lebedev, Hagel also "underlined the potential damage of any involvement by the military in breaking up the demonstrations," assistant Pentagon spokesman Carl Woog said in a statement.

President Viktor Yanukovych vowed earlier that the authorities would never use force against peaceful protests.

Ukraine's Yanukovych vows not to use force, urges dialogue

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday vowed not to use force against peaceful protesters and urged the opposition to sit down for talks after several dozen were injured in fresh clashes with riot police.

"For the sake of achieving compromise I am calling on the opposition not to reject (talks), not to follow the path of confrontation and ultimatums," Yanukovych said in a statement, adding that the authorities would "never use force against peaceful protests."

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Yanukovych confirmed intention to sign EU association deal, ready for dialogue with opposition - Ashton

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has confirmed his intention to sign the EU association agreement and to start a dialogue to resolve the crisis in the country, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

Ashton then condemned the violence at the protests in Kiev and said that the actions of Ukrainian law enforcers on Tuesday night could hamper the start of political dialogue.

Use of force against opposition supporters in Kiev complicates political dialogue - Ashton

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has expressed deep concerns over the use of force against opposition supporters in Kiev last night. Violence cannot be a response to peaceful protests, she said in a statement.

Last night’s events complicate prospects for political dialogue, said Ashton after meeting with opposition activists and former Ukrainian presidents during her visit to Kiev.

Last night, police drove protesters away from Independence Square, the so-called "euromaidan", in central Kiev and removed barricades put up by the opposition in some of the streets to reopen the roads to traffic. Police said that no tear gas or other special measures had been used.

Yanukovych, Nuland meeting was productive - Ukrainian presidential press service

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland had a productive conversation in Kiev on Wednesday, during which they discussed aspects of Ukrainian-US bilateral relations, internal and external challenges facing Ukraine today, and possible ways to settle the situation, the Ukrainian presidential press service reported.

US Assistant Secretary of State Nuland arrives at opposition rally in Kiev.

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland arrived on Wednesday morning at Independence Square in Kiev. She began speaking with protesters rallying in support for Ukraine's integration with the European Union. Nuland is treating protesters with cookies, biscuits and bread from a big package.

What happened last night with protesters was absolutely impermissible in democratic society - Nuland to Yanukovych

US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland on Wednesday complained to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich about actions against protesters that were "absolutely impermissible" in a democratic society. Nuland told reporters in Kiev that she had had "tough but realistic talks" with Yanukovich which lasted for more than two hours.

Overnight, riot police moved against demonstrators in Kiev in the authorities' biggest attempt yet to reclaim the streets after weeks of protests.