EU fails to sign agreement with Ukraine

VILNIUS EU leaders failed on the first day of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius to persuade Ukraine to sign agreements on association and free trade. According to President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, whose country currently holds EU presidency, the organization's arguments during the meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych "did not reach his ears and mind." EU fails to sign agreement with Ukraine "For now we see unchanged positions," she told the French news agency AFP. According to the Lithuanian president, Yanukovych spoke about Ukraine's economic problems and the desire to solve these problems together with the EU and Russia. News agencies previously reported that a meeting was held between the Ukrainian president and presidents of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso. Itar-Tass reported that Yanukovych was also "welcomed" in front of the building where the summit is held by Ukrainians who were shouting slogans in Ukrainian, English and Lithuanian, including, "Yanukovych, sign," "Do not betray the people - sign the agreement," and, "Ukraine is Europe." Leaders of the two main Ukrainian opposition parties also arrived to the summit. Delegations of the countries participating in the EU program "Eastern Partnership" are also there, including from Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Earlier, Itar-Tass quoted head of EU mission in Ukraine Jan Tombinski, who said the EU "does not intend to pay the debts of Ukraine." He commented on the Ukrainian government's argument that the country required EU compensation for lost of trade with Russia and the CIS by saying that it was "incredible." "Why would the EU be required to cover the losses made by other sides," he asked, adding that "a far better form of compensation for Ukrainian companies would be their ability to access new markets, as well as attract investment and technology." Barroso, Van Rompuy, Yanukovych (Beta/AP) Tanjug

EU fails to sign agreement with Ukraine

"For now we see unchanged positions," she told the French news agency AFP.

According to the Lithuanian president, Yanukovych spoke about Ukraine's economic problems and the desire to solve these problems together with the EU and Russia.

News agencies previously reported that a meeting was held between the Ukrainian president and presidents of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso.

Itar-Tass reported that Yanukovych was also "welcomed" in front of the building where the summit is held by Ukrainians who were shouting slogans in Ukrainian, English and Lithuanian, including, "Yanukovych, sign," "Do not betray the people - sign the agreement," and, "Ukraine is Europe."

Leaders of the two main Ukrainian opposition parties also arrived to the summit.

Delegations of the countries participating in the EU program "Eastern Partnership" are also there, including from Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Earlier, Itar-Tass quoted head of EU mission in Ukraine Jan Tombinski, who said the EU "does not intend to pay the debts of Ukraine." He commented on the Ukrainian government's argument that the country required EU compensation for lost of trade with Russia and the CIS by saying that it was "incredible."

"Why would the EU be required to cover the losses made by other sides," he asked, adding that "a far better form of compensation for Ukrainian companies would be their ability to access new markets, as well as attract investment and technology."