FM hopes Ukraine returns to issue of AA signing soon

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry notes steadiness of the legislated course of European integration, based on the implementation of systemic changes aimed at approximation to European standards in all spheres of public life. 

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the Ukrainian leadership is determined to continue work in this direction in collaboration with constructively minded political forces and society in general. "An order to suspend the process of preparation for the conclusion of the Association Agreement with the EU, adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in no way means rejecting the course of European integration and refusal to sign the already initialed EU-Ukraine Association Agreement," the statement says, ForUm learnt from the Ministry’s press office.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the Ukrainian party continues active preparations for participation in the Vilnius summit of "Eastern Partnership" at the highest level.

"The decision of the Ukrainian government is based on the national interests, the need for economic and financial stability, recovery of lost domestic production and foreign trade output. Ukraine’s needs, related to the implementation of large-scale obligations under the Association Agreement, as well as difficulties of the initial phase of a free trade area with the European Union, have not yet received adequate attention from our EU partners and international financial institutions,"  the Ministry notes.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the Ukrainian party expects continued substantive dialogue with the European Union, including the involvement of the Russian Federation, on a wide range of issues of cooperation in terms of a future EU-Ukraine free trade area and the free trade regime within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry hopes that the joint efforts will create the conditions to return to the issue of signing of the Association Agreement soon.