Back in November, protesters took to the streets to protest Ukrainian President Yanukovych’s decision to create closer ties to Russia rather than the European Union, as well as to protest an increasingly powerful government. While the protests started out peaceful, the police began to crackdown on the protesters and they grew increasingly hostile.  Violence escalated quickly on February 20, with as many as 100 people killed. Due in large part to the increasing violence, Yanukovych signed a deal with the opposition on the 21^st that will result in early election and a reduction of presidential power. Whether this deal will work out or not remains to be seen.