In the past two weeks tension has escalated dramatically. Protests in Kiev began in November when it became clear that President Yanukovych had turned his back on an agreement with the European Union. Yet at critical moments since then, the rallies seemed to taper off, as when Russia offered Ukraine a $15 billion lifeline to stem the economic crisis. Last week the world watched in shock as the protests erupted into violence and the government unraveled. With the president moving that has caused so many more problems. It has caused much more frustration in the west.

Why did the unrest escalate in the past two weeks?