<sod >Ukrainian riot police fought protesters occupying a central Kiev square early this morning after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence.< eod>< sod > The Ukrainian president has blamed the country's opposition for violence engulfing Kiev's Independence Square after 25 people were reportedly killed in the city's bloodiest clashes since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence.< eod>