KIEV, Jan. 8 – Protesters on Wednesday pledged to step up pressure on the government following a week of relative calm caused by the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays, signaling a new round of escalation ahead.

"I would like to reassure the skeptics: we’re in an energetic mood,” Zorian Shkiriak, one of the leaders of the Maidan rally in downtown Kiev. “Maidan has been standing and will continue to stand strong.”