BELGIUM: EU 'strongly disapproves' of Russia's action over Ukraine

Record ID: 863530

  • Title: BELGIUM: EU 'strongly disapproves' of Russia's action over Ukraine
  • Date: 25th November 2013
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EU COMMISSION BUILDING EU FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 10th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: European Union,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD4CGXQI9SHRSG6OE4BLS9Y7NS
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The European Union's offer to sign a free trade and political association agreement with Ukraine remains on the table despite Kiev's decision to seek closer ties with Russia, the 28-member bloc's top two officials, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, wrote in a joint statement on Monday (November 25).
    Issued days before Ukraine was due to sign the EU free-trade agreement at a summit in Vilnius set for Nov. 28-29, the statement says Ukraine could still take advantage of the EU offer despite Kiev's announcement that it would suspend the talks.
    "The offer of signing an unprecedented Association Agreement and a deeply and comprehensive free trade agreement is still on the table. This requires the necessary political will by the Ukrainian leadership, determined action and tangible progress on the conditions set out in December 2012," EU Commission spokesperson Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said while reading out the statement during a regular news briefing.
    In their joint statement, Van Rompuy and Barroso said they were aware Ukraine had been subjected to external pressure to get it to change course.
    "While being aware of the external pressure that Ukraine is experiencing, we believe that short term considerations should not override the long term benefits that this partnership would bring," Ahrenkilde Hansen read.
    In the statement, the two officials condemned Russia's interference in the discussions.
    "We therefore strongly disapprove of the Russian position and action in this respect," Ahrenkilde Hansen read.
    Russia has accused the EU of putting undue pressure on Ukraine to sign the deal, while EU officials have pointed to Russia's threats to cut off Ukraine's gas supplies and impose trade restrictions as excessive pressure from Moscow's side.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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