Ukraine abandons plans to sign SAA, EU disappointed

BRUSSELS EU Commissioner Stefan Fule has canceled his visit to Ukraine, as Kiev suddenly announced its withdrawal from the signing of an agreement with Brussels. The enlargement commissioner's spokesman Peter Stano said that the visit was canceled "due to recent events," according to the AFP. Ukraine abandons plans to sign SAA, EU disappointed Fule, on the other hand, called the Ukrainian opposition leaders to convince them that the EU "will continue to advocate for the Ukrainian people and in order to organize a meeting with them next week in Vilnius." "Cooperation with the opposition parties must be strengthened," said a statement from his office. Talks with three opposition leaders from Ukraine will be held on the sidelines of the summit next week in Vilnius, where the EU and Ukraine were to sign a trade and political agreement. However, the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday dealt a potentially fatal blow to this, after they refused to vote on a bill that would have allowed former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, convicted of corruption, to be treated abroad. The Tymoshenko case was quoted as the major obstacle to the signing of the SAA, as the EU claims that the former prime minister was sent to jail "for political reasons." The European Union has expressed disappointment at the sudden decision of Ukraine to abandon plans to sign a historic agreement with Brussels next week, noting that the deal would increased investments in the country. "This is disappointing, not only for the EU, but, we believe, for the people of Ukraine," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in a statement, Reuters reported. The authorities in Kiev announced on Thursday that they had suspended the process with the EU in the interest of "national security," and were now moving to restore "an active dialogue" with the Russian Federation. Stefan Fule (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Ukraine abandons plans to sign SAA, EU disappointed

Fule, on the other hand, called the Ukrainian opposition leaders to convince them that the EU "will continue to advocate for the Ukrainian people and in order to organize a meeting with them next week in Vilnius."

"Cooperation with the opposition parties must be strengthened," said a statement from his office.

Talks with three opposition leaders from Ukraine will be held on the sidelines of the summit next week in Vilnius, where the EU and Ukraine were to sign a trade and political agreement.

However, the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday dealt a potentially fatal blow to this, after they refused to vote on a bill that would have allowed former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, convicted of corruption, to be treated abroad.

The Tymoshenko case was quoted as the major obstacle to the signing of the SAA, as the EU claims that the former prime minister was sent to jail "for political reasons."

The European Union has expressed disappointment at the sudden decision of Ukraine to abandon plans to sign a historic agreement with Brussels next week, noting that the deal would increased investments in the country.

"This is disappointing, not only for the EU, but, we believe, for the people of Ukraine," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in a statement, Reuters reported.

The authorities in Kiev announced on Thursday that they had suspended the process with the EU in the interest of "national security," and were now moving to restore "an active dialogue" with the Russian Federation.