Tag: Ukraine

The recent session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly was a success, bringing together MEPs and their counterparts from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Bulgarian MEP Evgeni Kirilov tells EurActiv.

Ukraine is taking “active steps” to win the sympathy of Germany, the country most strongly opposed to the signature of a landmark association agreement with the EU in the absence of a solution to the imprisonment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, diplomats told EurActiv.

It appears that Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich has already taken the political decision to cede control over the transit pipeline network to Gazprom, in exchange for lower gas prices and long-term gas transit guarantees, writes Wojciech Konończuk.

The European Union has urged Ukrainian authorities to “reconsider thoroughly” the imprisonment of  Yulia Tymoshenko following a European Court of Human Rights ruling that the arrest of the former prime minister was illegal and politically motivated.

As the May deadline for signing a EU-Ukraine association agreement approaches, some EU countries are prepared to overlook the imprisonment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, arguing that the Union should not lose Ukraine over the fate of one person.

A move by the European Parliament to extend its observation mission in Ukraine, led by the former presidents of Ireland and Poland, has been viewed as a sign of hope that the country can finalise its association agreement with the EU by the end of year.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych yesterday (7 April) pardoned two allies of his main foe, ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, in a move to appease Western critics but gave no sign of being ready to free the imprisoned opposition leader herself.

Over the last year, Moldova and Georgia have cooperated “quite well” with the EU, under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), while Ukraine, which used to be the front-runner, is lagging behind, according to reports to be published today (20 March).

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych hinted that he might be ready to cede some control of his country's gas pipeline system that transports Russian gas to Europe ahead of a meeting today (4 March) with his Russian counterpart.

The 16th Ukraine–EU Summit on 25 February will launch a final countdown before the signing of a Ukraine–EU Association Agreement in Vilnius this November, writes Kostiantyn Yelisieiev.

Ukraine's top diplomat in Brussels says his country rejects any kind of pre-conditions for the signature of its Association Agreement with the EU ahead of the leadership summit to be held on Monday.

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. 

For experts and analysts, the new year traditionally begins with the definition of the main trends of social, political and economic development. Actions in Ukraine show that some trends will have significant implications for the Ukrainian society, argues Lidiya Smola.

A law was recently adopted in Ukraine allowing constitutional change by referendum. The law should be carefully welcomed by the EU, argues Bruno Vandecasteele.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, yesterday (9 January) discussed the strategic vision and mandate of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), a new initiative to foster democracy in the EU’s neighbourhood, and appointed a Polish diplomat as its executive director.

The Eurasian Union is surely Russia’s most ambitious political programme since the end of the Soviet Union, writes Liana Fix. As Putin’s own brainchild, it is likely to become one of the top priorities of his presidency, she argues.

Ukraine's parliament on Thursday (December 13) approved Mykola Azarov, President Viktor Yanukovich's ally, as prime minister, after the ruling Party of the Regions and its allies mastered a solid majority despite protests from the opposition.

The leak of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA) turns the focus of their relations to a Shakespearean question: to sign or not to sign. And since Ukraine is ready to sign, it puts the onus on the EU, in the complex geopolitical games of Russia, Europe, the US and other influential international players, argues Roman Rukomeda.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's government on Monday (3 December), without indicating whether he would re-appoint the long-time ally ahead of tough IMF loan talks.

Media activists from Russia and the Ukraine called for urgent EU and civil society help to protect press freedom in their counties at a public meeting held in Brussels yesterday (26 November). They proposed establishing an international Pen Centre, holding “mega-forums” and adopting charts, similar to those used in the run-up to the Helsinki process.

Ukraine expects EU foreign ministers, who are meeting in Brussels today (19 November), to unfreeze its EU agenda which has been paralysed since the recent parliamentary elections.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov expressed concern today (9 November) about the ongoing disputes over the vote count in last month's parliamentary election, calling for the establishment of a “broad coalition based on European values”.