Uncertainty over key dossiers and "some confusing signals from Kyiv" prevented confirming the EU-Ukraine summit, diplomats told EurActiv.
Expected to attend the meeting were European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.
But Yanukovich has alluded he might not attend, said a senior EU diplomat, adding this had contributed to the "confusing signals".
Yanukovich is expected to attend a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Community Interstate Council in Moscow on 19 December, according to reports in the Ukrainian press. Ukrainian officials are quoted as saying that the EU-Ukraine summit was "just a formality", implying that Yanukovich had other priorities.
The snub by the Ukrainian leader could be explained as a tit-for-tat answer to the recent cancellation of his visit to Brussels, which was planned for 20 October (see background). The visit was cancelled after Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on charges of abuse of office in a case denounced by the EU as politically motivated.
"Everybody is watching with a lot of anxiety events in Ukraine. It is about Yulia Tymoshenko, it is about other cases, but it is also about the discussion about the new election code," the diplomat said.
Criticism of electoral reform
The Council of Europe has criticised Kyiv, regretting that the country had neglected its recommendations and pushed its own agenda. The biggest concern relate to changes in the electoral system which the Council of Europe says are designed to favour the ruling majority.
Parliamentary elections are due in October 2012 and the Council of Europe usually advises that changes to the electoral code should not be made ahead of a major poll.
Another reason for Yanukovich to consider cancelling his attendance relates to uncertainty over a long-awaited EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which was supposed to be launched at the summit.
The summit was seen as a milestone in view of concluding the association agreement, alongside a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year.
But this might not happen after all. "At this stage, there is no unanimity among member states that this should actually be happening," the diplomat said.
"Honestly speaking, it is too early to say what may happen," the diplomat said. He added that contacts were taking place at the bilateral level between individual EU member countries and Kyiv.
In the meantime, Director of Information Policy Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleh Voloshyn said that the 19 December summit would be held "at the presidential level," Kyiv Post reported.
COMMENTS
This is not the time to move forward on ANY options other than for free trade agreements that mutually do NOT interfere in the internal affairs of OTHERS.
In this regard Ukraine is at risk from BOTH directions, east and west.
Specifically the predicament of Yulia Tymoshenko's fate begs a solution; although turning incompetence into a crime is politically motivated, what would be overall justice at this point is not clear?
What about the unaccounted for, $405Million Russia says is owed for gas delivered to Temochenko's trading company? Where is the money? Is it still in Ukraine? Who owes who?
Sorry Yulia, but screaming "RUBBISH" is street talk and not good enough.
However pressure from a European Union that has MAJOR problems of its own in this case is interference in the affairs of a Sovereign Ukraine who needs opinions and understanding but NOT pressure from others.
From the East comes pressure from those who dream of a glorious past; under Stalin the S.U. was then a "Super Power" and these would like to re-claim Ukraine on their path to 'new' glories. Here again Ukraine must seek free trade without such infringements on independence as "Customs Union";there is no new glory to be had there.
So let us hope for a face saving "on hold" in relations with Europe while The Government of Ukraine takes steps to rid the country of the last vestiges of Soviet "justice".
This is not the time to move forward on ANY options other than for free trade agreements that mutually do NOT interfere in the internal affairs of OTHERS.
In this regard Ukraine is at risk from BOTH directions, east and west.
Specifically the predicament of Yulia Tymoshenko's fate begs a solution; although turning incompetence into a crime is politically motivated, what would be overall justice at this point is not clear?
What about the unaccounted for, $405Million Russia says is owed for gas delivered to Temochenko's trading company? Where is the money? Is it still in Ukraine? Who owes who?
Sorry Yulia, but screaming "RUBBISH" is street talk and not good enough.
However pressure from a European Union that has MAJOR problems of its own in this case is interference in the affairs of a Sovereign Ukraine who needs opinions and understanding but NOT pressure from others.
From the East comes pressure from those who dream of a glorious past; under Stalin the S.U. was then a "Super Power" and these would like to re-claim Ukraine on their path to 'new' glories. Here again Ukraine must seek free trade without such infringements on independence as "Customs Union";there is no new glory to be had there.
So let us hope for a face saving "on hold" in relations with Europe while The Government of Ukraine takes steps to rid the country of the last vestiges of Soviet "justice".
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