BRUSSELS, January 20. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union would welcome Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich’s participation in talks on the settlement of a political crisis in the country, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said on Monday.

The Ukrainian leader has instructed Security Council Secretary Andrei Klyuev to set up a task group with the participation of representatives from the Cabinet and the presidential administration to look into a political settlement of the crisis hitting the country.

According to the leader of the opposition UDAR (Punch) Party, Vitaly Klitschko, Yanukovich has pledged to meet later on Monday with opposition leadership. However, Anna German from the parliamentary faction of the ruling Party of Regions said the first meeting of the working group and opposition representatives would be held on Monday, but Yanukovich would not participate.