The European Union on March 21 signed the political provisions of the Association agreement with Ukraine in Brussels.
EU President Herman Van Rompuy said the signing of political chapters of the Association Agreement with Ukraine shows how important the relationship between the two sides is.
“It shows our steadfast support for the course the people of Ukraine have courageously pursued. We expect to soon sign the agreement’s remaining parts,” Van Rompuy said after heand other EU leaders signed the agreement with Ukraine’s Prime Minister ArseniyYatsenyuk on the sidelines of two-day EU summit in Brussels.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barrososaid the agreement was aimed at sealing “the strong political partnership that brings Ukraine and the European Union closer together.”
“This is the democratic choice that Ukraine has made. It is our firm intention to sign the remaining parts of the agreement in due course. Europe is committed to Ukraine for the long term,” he added.
The trade portion of the EU accord is to be signed after May.
Earlier on Friday, the European Council decided to cancel the next EU-Russia Summit and impose visa ban and asset freeze on 12 more individuals overRussia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, warning that any further steps by Russia to destabilise Ukraine would have “far-reaching consequences.”
