Tag: Ukraine

The 25 February EU-Ukraine summit is not expected to make a breakthrough in relations between Brussels and Kyiv, but it can set the course for improvement ahead of the Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit in November, Amanda Paul, analyst at the European Policy Centre, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

Moscow, which recently slammed Kyiv with a huge gas bill, said Monday (4 February) that an arrangement could be found. A Russian diplomat explained that the deal would not necessarily require Ukraine to join Moscow's proposed Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan. 

Ukraine and Russia are embroiled in a new gas dispute after Moscow sent Kyiv a huge bill for gas it commissioned under long-term contracts but did not use. Asked by EurActiv if there was a risk of a repeat of the 2009 gas crisis, the European Commission said it expected both sides to make sure that shipments to the EU remain uninterrupted.

Ukraine took a step closer to a breakthrough shale gas deal with global energy major Royal Dutch Shell when local authorities in the eastern Donetsk region approved a planned production sharing agreement.

Today, it seems that one seeks to artificially impose a choice on Ukraine: either favour the EU or the Russian-led Customs Union. The myths are exaggerated in Ukraine and obviously go beyond borders, getting to the ear of our attentive EU partners, says Kostiantyn Yelisieiev.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said his country planned to sign an Association Agreement with the EU in the course of 2013. But he also stressed that the country would develop its relations with Russia’s Custom’s Union in areas which do not contradict other “international obligations”. 

Ukraine's president pulled out of gas price talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the last minute on Tuesday (18 December), raising concern about the reliability of supplies to Europe before a Russia-EU summit.

EU ministers adopted yesterday (10 December) a rather long text on the Union’s relations with Ukraine, leaving options open for the holding of a bilateral summit and for signing the association agreement in 2013, provided that they see “determined action” in a number of areas, including “progress in addressing the issue of selective justice”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the EU-Russia summit in Brussels later this month. But he will make sure his hosts welcome him as the representative of the Eurasian Union - Putin's pet geopolitical project, which bears similarities to the EU.

I am amazed by the current discussion about the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement, about when, where, why to sign it or to sign it all in all. It’s a total confusion of goals and means and nobody is talking about it, neither in the EU nor in Ukraine, writes Pavlo Klimkin.

The simple expectation from the Ukrainian authorities that the EU won't let Ukraine transformation into a new Belarus allows the current Ukrainian administration to manipulate the position of official Brussels in favour of itself, says Viktor Tkachuk.

Ukrainian authorities might have problems forming even a simple majority after the general election. The Party of Regions' apparent election success is in fact a pyrrhic victory, says Sonia Koshkina.

Ukraine's opposition demanded a recount in 13 constituencies yesterday (5 November), stepping up its campaign against the results of last month's parliamentary election which it says was rigged by President Viktor Yanukovich's ruling party. Meanwhile, the police blocked supporters of the opposition at a rally in Kyiv.

Just days after the parliamentary election in Ukraine, EU officials in Brussels expressed “increased concern” over the vote count, while the opposition denounced a series of falsifications.

International observers to the parliamentary elections in Ukraine have accused the authorities of “abuse of power” and “excessive role of money” in the campaign, while the EU issued a more carefully worded statement.

The Ukranian Parliamentary elections on Sunday (28 October) will not trigger improved relations between the EU and Ukraine. In fact they could make them worse, says Roman Rukomeda.

Public dissatisfaction in Ukraine is rising but – paradoxically – it is “non-political”. Public willingness to join protests grow not because of the political situation, but due to worsening economic conditions, says Wojciech Konończuk.

Fast advantages from a proposed customs union with Russia will become an irresistible temptation for Ukrainian politicians in comparison with the uncertain prospects of the EU's 'Eastern Partnership' and Association Agreement, writes Viktor Tkachuk.

The “United Opposition” party of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the UDAR party of former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko have each withdrawn candidates in favour of the other's, in what appears to be a pact ahead of parliamentary elections on 28 October.

Russia and Ukraine began yesterday (4 October) the construction on a nuclear fuel plant. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said the plant will contribute to the country’s energy independence and experts commented that the new facility was good news for East European countries with Russia-built nuclear reactors.  

Instead of seeking to position itself to the West or to the East, Ukraine should reform and use its huge natural resources and human potential to become a big international player on its own terms, speakers told a conference held in the European Parliament on Wednesday (26 September).

Ukraine’s envoy to the European Union pleaded for the EU to sign an Association Agreement to anchor his country to the West if next month’s parliamentary elections are shown to be free and fair.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has called for establishing an international consortium consisting of Ukraine, Russia and the European Union to modernise and manage the Ukrainian natural gas transport system.

Ukraine's high court rejected today (29 August) an appeal by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko against her conviction for abuse of office, leaving her in prison and Ukraine's relations with the West severely strained.