Interfax: Kyiv-Moscow understandings won’t hinder Association Agreement Brussels is ready to sign – Ashton

BRUSSELS. Dec 19 (Interfax) – High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, European Commission Vice President Catherine Ashton believes that the understandings between Ukraine and Russia reached in Moscow won’t hinder Kyiv’s further advancement along the road of European integration.

At an extraordinary session of the European Parliament committee on foreign affairs in Brussels on Wednesday where she reported on the results of the EU Council session Ashton said that the EU is still ready to sign the Association Agreement as soon as Ukraine is ready.

She also told members of the European parliament about her conversations with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during their two meetings in Kyiv.

Quoting him she said: “I want to sign it. My whole political career is dedicated to bringing Ukraine to this Agreement. It is what I want to do.” She added that it as what Yanukovych constantly told her.

Ashton said the Ukrainian president also spoke of problems. He described them as short-term economic problems that the country will face. According to Ashton, Yanukovych also admitted that he needs good relations with Russia. The EU does not argue with that, she said. It is not ‘either or’, it is ‘and’, she said.

He needs good relations with Russia, we want strong relations with Russia, they traded with Russia and it should continue, the diplomat said.

Ashton repeated the EU stance that Brussels does not argue that Ukraine should have close relations with Russia.

Speaking of the session of the EU Council Ashton said that the foreign ministers once again confirmed their readiness to sign the Association Agreement with a deep and comprehensive free trade zone as soon as Ukraine is ready and fulfills the conditions.

She also said that the ministers welcomed public support for the political association and economic integration with the EU by such a great number of people in Ukraine.

At both meeting with the Ukrainian president he confirmed his wish to sign the agreement; Ashton said adding that they discussed in detail the challenges facing Ukraine.

We are ready to take part and help find a way out of the current political situation and help with the dialogue, the head of European diplomacy said.