EU leadership raises Ukrainian issue
Today, the highest EU leadership will discuss the current situation in Ukraine. According to European Commission Vice President Catherine Ashton, this will be one of the agendas of her meeting with the president of the Council EU Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Ashton stated that EU intends to renegotiate contracts with Ukraine.
The reason for this discussion was the criminal prosecution of Yulia Tymoshenko, which Ashton called "politically motivated. In her opinion, such situations are unacceptable for the country, which chairs the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The day before, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a statement in which it expressed serious concern about the trial and conviction of Yulia Tymoshenko. Ashton noted that EU will continue negotiations with Ukraine on an association agreement, but it will only be signed when the leadership European Union will be convinced that the Ukrainian authorities believe in the values on which the document is based.