Brazil's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called for dialogue between the government and the opposition, stressing that the violent political crisis in Ukraine must be resolved by the Ukrainians.

"The government of Brazil calls on all sides involved to dialogue. The political crisis in Ukraine must be resolved by Ukrainians themselves, in a peaceful manner," the ministry said in a statement.

Protests in Ukraine, which began last November to back the country's European integration, turned violent in mid-January. On Tuesday night and in the early hours of Wednesday, at least 26 people died in Kiev in street clashes between riot police and protesters.