Polish foreign minister - 'Ukraine at a crossroads'

Radek Sikorski (centre) introduces President Yanukovich (left) to Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans: photo - PAP/Pawel Supernak

"We are at a crucial point when it comes to Ukraine's societal choices. Over the next three months, Ukraine must convince the entire EU that it is ready to sign the association agreement in November," Minister Sikorski told reporters after talks with Ukraine's top officials, which were also attended by Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevičius, Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans and Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen.

"So I call on both the authorities and the opposition to set everything else aside and adopt all the necessary laws," Minister Sikorski said, adding: "If this fails to happen, over the course of decades and perhaps even generations to come, we will debate over what went wrong. But Ukraine's chance will be lost. The time to act is now."

The ministers representing the EU were critical of Ukraine dragging its feet on free trade and political association, particularly in the wake of the seven year imprisonment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for “abuse of power” when concluding a gas deal with Russia in 2008.

Ukraine's President Yanukovich has said he cannot pardon Tymoshenko while two other trials, for tax evasion and alleged involvement in a murder of a Ukrainian businessman, are still going through the courts.

Ukraine hopes to sign an associate agreement with the EU in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in November.

"The stakes are very high and time is very short," Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said. (pg)