WATCH: Central Kiev looks like a battle zone as anti-government protesters clashed with riot police. Robin Gill reports.
The dark streets of central Kyiv were lit up with flames Wednesday night as protesters continued demonstrations against the Ukrainian government.
Video taken of the protest site after night fell showed what appeared to be protesters tossing Molotov cocktails and a wall of burning tires, as the demonstrators tried to maintain barricades in the central square.
Earlier in the day, three protesters reportedly died amid clashes with police near government buildings.
Tensions have reached a fever pitch in the country as President Viktor Yanukovich strengthened ties with Russia and veered away from – and eventually quashed — a trade deal with the European Union.
For the past two months, opposition protesters have taken to the streets of Kyiv in the largest protests since the 2004 Orange Revolution.
READ MORE: Timeline: key events in Ukraine protests
WATCH: Opposition leader and world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko speaks with protesters beside a burning barricade in Independence Square
Wednesday marked the first time violent crackdowns on the protests led to deaths. Earlier images from Kyiv showed riot police battering protesters with batons and bloodied demonstrators being arrested and carried out of Independence Square.
Two of the protesters were killed Wednesday after being hit with live ammunition, while the third died after a fall during a confrontation between police and demonstrators manning barricades, in what’s been described as “a battle zone.”
Foreign Minister John Baird condemned Wednesday’s violence during a teleconference from Switzerland, where he is attending the Geneva II talks aimed at bringing peace to war-torn Syria.
“We’re deeply troubled by actions in recent hours and recent days. News of the three people having been killed is obviously disturbing,” Baird said. “We will seek to make our views known unequivocally to the government over the next few days. “
The foreign minister also said he plans to consult with Canada’s “two great partners,” the United States and the European Union, to discuss a response and possibly sanctions.
“All options are on the table,” Baird said. “I think we need to be very clear that we cannot remain silent.”
Late Wednesday, Yanukovich met with three leaders of the opposition, following the deaths earlier in the day, but failed to reach any sort of agreement.
Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko said a day earlier demonstrators “have to do everything possible” to prevent police from clearing out “the Maidan” – also known as Independence Square.
“There is no other option,” he said to the cheering crowd.
Yanukovich’s prime minister, Mykola Azarov has said the opposition leaders should be held for the three deaths on Wednesday and police did not have live ammunition.
“As the Prime Minister of Ukraine, I officially state that the casualties, which unfortunately already exist, remain on the consciousness and responsibility of the organizers and certain participants of mass disturbances,” Azarov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
*With files from The Associated Press
Comments