Ukraine and EU seek closer ties

Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych paid a visit to the European Union on Monday, seeking ways to strengthen relations between the two sides in view of the upcoming Ukraine-EU summit, which is scheduled for November this year.

“We would like to have a free trade area agreement that would suggest the gradual integration of the Ukrainian economy into the European Union,” Yanukovych said at a joint news conference with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

In relation with the introduction of a visa-free regime, Yanukovych said that the works on the action plan have already started and that the process should be completed by the time of the next Ukraine-EU summit. “And we have a join vision of the process.”