The European Union made an official statement, where it accuses Russia of putting pressure on Ukraine. The document is published on the EU’s website.
The joint statement of President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso says that despite intense external pressure, Kiev has the possibility to accept the EU’s offer of partnership. The authors of the document point out that “Ukrainian citizens have again shown these last days that they fully understand and embrace the historic nature of the European association”.
”Stronger relations with the European Union do not come at the expense of relations between our Eastern partners and their other
neighbours, such as Russia. The Eastern Partnership is conceived as a win-win where we all stand to gain,” the document says.
The EU government notes that it has great hopes for the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius which is scheduled on November 28-29. Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich said that he intended to visit the summit despite the fact that Kiev froze the EU deal.
According to the Ukraine’s opposition, rejecting the EU deal, Victor Yanukovich may be set to receive financial help from Moscow to finance his next election campaign and fixed to lower gas prices. Nikolai Azarov, Ukraine’s Prime Minister, proved the information about the reconsideration of gas contracts; however, Gazprom rejected to comment on it.
On November 21, 2013, Ukraine’s government decided to suspend the preparation for signing the EU Association Agreement. It was said that the decision was taken “to ensure Ukraine’s national and economic safety”. Meanwhile, during the talks with Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite the Ukranian president complained that it was impossible to sign the Agreement due to “economic pressure and blackmail by Russia”.
