Britain Hauls In Ukraine Ambassador

Britain hauled in the Ukrainian ambassador to London on Thursday for the second time in two days over the violence in Kiev that has claimed at least another 27 lives.

Following renewed deadly clashes earlier Thursday, Europe Minister David Lidington summoned Volodymyr Khandogiy to the Foreign Office over what it called the "shocking violence in Ukraine".

"The minister expressed extreme concern over the reports of further violence and deaths, and made clear that action against peaceful protesters on Independence Square is unacceptable," a statement said afterwards.

Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to meet with European Union counterparts later Thursday at an emergency meeting of the 28-member bloc's foreign affairs council in Brussels to discuss the situation.