A coffin lies in front of riot police who are preventing protesters from approaching the residence of President Viktor Yanukovych in Mezhigorye outside Kiev. A protest movement against the president and his government has developed around Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), renamed Euro Maidan by protesters who have camped out there since 21 November 2013. The protests were sparked by the Ukrainian government's decision to suspend preparations for the signing of an association agreement with the European Union that would have increased trade with the EU. Some believe that the U-turn came about as a result of pressure from President Putin of Russia who wants Ukraine to join a customs union with itself, Kazakhstan and Belarus.