Europe in shock as Ukraine kills integration plan, says mission is over The EU is utterly disappointed by Ukraine’s decision to align itself closer to Russia and halt its preparations for signing a European trade and political agreement, effectively killing the country’s chances to eventually join the bloc. “This is a disappointment not just for the EU but, we believe, for the people of Ukraine,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement, claiming that “the most ambitious” pact ever offered to a partner by the EU would have helped the country’s economy. The decree signed by Prime Minister Mykola Azarovs government on Thursday orders the “halt of the process of preparing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.” The decision was taken to “ensure the national security of Ukraine” and “restore lost trade volumes with the Russian Federation” after considering the effects on trade relations with Moscow, legislators said. The announcement follows the Ukraine parliaments earlier refusal to pass a bill that would see jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko allowed to travel abroad for treatment - a key EU deal condition for the summit that was scheduled in Vilnius, Lithuania, next week. The EU envoy at the negotiations, Polish politician Aleksander Kwasniewski confirmed that the deal would not go ahead saying the “mission is over… The accord will not be signed in Vilnius.” Many European politicians as well as Ukraine’s own opposition have already slammed Kiev’s decision. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt critcized Ukraines decision, saying the “Ukraine government suddenly bows deeply to the Kremlin” due to the Russian “politics of brutal pressure.” A “deep disappointment at the unilateral decision” was also voiced in a statement by EU envoys Aleksander Kwasniewski and Pat Cox, who highlighted what they call a “dramatically increased pressure from Russia in recent weeks.” British Foreign Secretary William Hague in the meantime called the decision a “missed opportunity.” Not all European countries however have adopted such a critical approach. It was Ukraines “sovereign right to make a decision which path she wants to follow,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said. rt/news/eu-ukraine-agreement-reaction-125/
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:59:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015