Stalling Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement

—josé manuel barroso, president of european commission, @ 28–29 november 2013 eu summit in vilnius (29 november 2013)

on 21 november 2013 verkhovna rada failed pass of 6 motions on allowing former prime minister yulia tymoshenko receive medical treatment abroad, eu demand signing association agreement. same week tymoshenko had stated ready ask eu drop demand freedom if meant president viktor yanukovych sign association agreement. same day ukrainian government decree suspended preparations signing of association agreement; instead proposed creation of three-way trade commission between ukraine, european union , russia resolve trade issues between sides. prime minister mykola azarov issued decree in order ensure national security of ukraine , in consideration of possible ramifications of trade russia (and other cis countries) if agreement signed on 28–29 november summit in vilnius. according ukrainian deputy prime minister yuriy boyko ukraine resume preparing agreement when drop in industrial production , our relations cis countries compensated european market, otherwise our country s economy sustain serious damage . eu diplomats more skeptical of reasons put forward. later on 21 november 2013, russian presidential press secretary, dmitry peskov, called ukrainian decree strictly internal , sovereign decision of country, , think have no right comment on , stated russia prepared have tripartite negotiations ukraine , eu on trade , economic issues. european parliament s monitoring mission in ukraine stated (also on 21 november 2013) there still possibility sign eu-ukraine association agreement. same day ukrainian president viktor yanukovych stated alternative reforms in ukraine , alternative european integration not exist...we walking along path , not changing direction .

in following days, euromaidan, biggest protests since orange revolution, being held in kyiv opposition parties. on 26 november 2013 ukrainian government admitted russia had asked delay signing eu association agreement , wanted better terms eu deal . reach level comfortable us, when meets our interests, when agree on normal terms, talking signing, president yanukovych stated in televised interview. same day russian president vladimir putin called end criticism of ukrainian decision delay association agreement, , eu deal bad russia s security interests. putin responding statements president of european council, herman van rompuy, , president of european commission, josé manuel barroso, had stated disapproved of russia s actions. on 26 november 2013 prime minister azarov stated during government meeting affirm full authority negotiating process on association agreement continuing, , work on moving our country closer european standards not stopping single day . president yanukovych still attended 28–29 november eu summit in vilnius association agreement not signed. during summit european union , ukraine initialed air services agreement. during summit, president yanukovych stated ukraine still wanted sign association agreement needed substantial financial aid compensate threatened response russia, , proposed starting three-way talks between russia, ukraine, , eu. urged brussels ukraine soften terms of possible loan imf. eu rejected trilateral talks , asked yanukovich commit sign association agreement, refused do. @ end of summit president of european commission josé manuel barroso stated eu not tolerate veto of third country in negotiations on closer integration ukraine. stated embarked on long journey, helping ukraine become, others, call now, new member states . have set aside short-term political calculations.

the president of european council, herman van rompuy, added may not give in external pressure, least of russia . barroso reiterated eu s offer ukraine in terms of signing association agreement remained on table. simultaneously, president yanukovych stated still intends sign association agreement @ later date once down work , find solutions economic problems, when opportunity sign strategic partnership agreement russia , else need do, normal relations can established between european union, russia, , ukraine… our responsibility .

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