Russia agreed on Tuesday to a US$15 billion bailout package and a gas price deal with Ukraine as anti-Russia and pro-Europe protests continued to rage in the Ukranian capital of Kiev.

Protesters in Kiev have continued to argue that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich is "selling Ukraine to the highest bidder" by agreeing to the Russian deal. They are also calling for Ukraine to turn towards integration with the European Union and not its former Soviet-era master.

In the deal, Russia agreed to purchase Ukrainian government bonds to bolster the country's fledgling economy and to prevent an economic crisis.  Ukraine is also suffering from high unemployment and its foreign currency reserves are at a seven-year low.

Ukraine also arranged an energy export deal, allowing the country to purchase Russian natural gas for around 30 percent less than before. Ukraine is heavily dependent on natural gas. A potential deficit in Ukraine's energy supply this winter exacerbated fears that many would be without natural gas for heating and cooking.

Protesters in Kiev, Ukraine/via Flickr Creative Commons

"Ukraine is our strategic partner and ally in every sense of the word," Putin said on Tuesday following discussions at the Kremlin.

"The assistance is not tied to any conditions... We have not discussed the issue of Ukraine's accession to the customs union at all."

Ukraine joining the Customs Union would draw the country closer to Russia and eliminate any real opportunity to integrate with the European Union.

Ukrainian opposition leader and former boxer Vitaly Klitschko told reporters on Tuesday that Yanukovych had "given up Ukraine's national interests."

Read more about the Ukraine-Russia deal and Kiev protests at NBC News, Time, CNN, and Reuters.

Reach Executive Producer Colin Hale here. Follow him on Twitter.