President Yanukovych intends to sign on closer EU ties
It was stated by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych intended to sign a deal on closer EU ties. Ashton spoke as pro-EU protesters continued to paralyse the centre of Kiev over the president’s decision not to sign the EU association agreement.
Baroness Ashton said Mr Yanukovych had assured her when they met that his aim was to sign the agreement although she did not give an indication of when she expected this to happen. Ashton also said that his concern during their talks was the “short term economic issues” that Ukraine faced.
Ukraine’s president had pulled out of the deal last month, explaining that Kiev could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia. While adding that he still aimed to sign the deal, he said Ukraine would need at least 20bn euros (£17bn; $27bn) a year to upgrade its economy.
Baroness Ashton said on Thursday: “it is my view that those challenges, which are real, can be addressed by the support that not only comes from the European Union institutions, but actually by showing that he has a serious economic plan in signing the association agreement also will help to bring in the kind of investment that he needs.”
12.12.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
