Outcry in Ukraine ahead of Vilnius summit
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
26.11.2013 16:49
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NFP 13 11 26 Ukraine is Europe.mp3
Protests against Ukraine suspending preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the EU continue in major cities across the country.
Ukrainian students from different educational institutions shout slogans during a rally in Kyiv, Ukraine, 26 November 2013. Photo: PAP/EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
As Slawek Szefs reports, the demonstrators are demanding that the government in Kyiv satisfies requirements put forth by Brussels to conclude the process in time to put ink to the document at the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.
Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fuele assured the association agreement remains valid for signature under the agreed terms.
“We are ready and the door is open. And the deadline is Friday morning,” he stressed.
Former Polish foreign minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld is of the opinion that Ukraine has miscalculated its efforts in trying to secure equally good relations with neighboring Russia and the European Union.
"Ukraine has adopted a strategy [...] of simply navigating around Russia and the EU in a conviction that this will be an optimal solution for its interests because Ukraine will stand to gain more from non-commitment to either partner,” he explains.