Eurasia Press & News
The European Union told Ukraine on Thursday its rejection of a free-trade deal in favour of closer ties with Russia would risk its economic future, as EU leaders prepared for what is likely to be a fraught meeting with President Viktor Yanukovich.
Yanukovich was due to fly into the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in time for a dinner in honour of the Eastern Partnership, the EU’s four-year-old programme of outreach to Eastern Countries.
He had been expected to sign a far-reaching free-trade and political association deal with the EU at the Vilnius summit, the result of years of negotiation.
But last week, after intense pressure from Moscow and growing concerns about Ukraine’s dire economic situation, Yanukovich announced he was not ready to sign the EU deal yet and would instead focus on reviving economic dialogue with Russia.
Speaking a few hours before Yanukovich was due to arrive on Thursday, EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele warned Ukraine that its decision to walk away from the agreement could imperil its future.
