Yanukovych: Ukraine cannot avoid referendum on accession to EU or CU

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych stated that a national referendum is to be conducted if a decision to join the European Union (EU) or the Customs Union is made.

"Any decisions we make have to be far-sighted. Any decisions, from simple to serious and strategic, with which we are now concerned, can show what the choice of the Ukrainian nation is, via a referendum," Yanukovych said in an interview with Ukrainian television channels on Friday, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

"We don’t know when the referendum will be held. When the decision to join the European Union or the Customs Union is made, we cannot do without a referendum," he said.