Protests continue in tense Ukraine capital

But it is unclear how much patience the government will have with the protesters. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov hinted that authorities would not tolerate the kind of 24/7 sit-in that brought Orange Revolution leaders to power in 2004.

Yakunovych's office has not commented on the protests, but his ally Azarov staunchly defended the turn toward Moscow Sunday evening.

In an interview with Ukraine's ICTV channel Azarov snubbed the economic aid offered by the EU as “a pittance” and said that Moscow, by contrast, has offered a discount for Russian natural gas imports, which Ukraine has been seeking for several years.

Dozens of protesters were rallying on European Square in downtown Kiev Monday morning, dancing to patriotic music blaring from loudspeakers, hiding from rain under umbrellas and waving Ukrainian and EU flags.

“I have been to Europe and seen how people live there. I want my children and grandchildren to have a normal life,” said Halyna Polychuk, 50, a retired store manager who came to Kiev from the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk to join the demonstrations.