Ukraine suspends EU trade deal, plans to renew Russia ties / Memo: Joint statement by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on Ukraine

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details MEMO/13/1052 (25.11.13)
Publication Date 25/11/2013
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On the 21 November 2013 Ukraine announced that it would suspend temporarily the preparations for signing the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union. In a joint statement, President Barroso and President Van Rompuy emphasized the European Union's position concerning the Ukrainian decision.

See the related url hyperlinks for more information sources on this important development.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych defended on the 25 November 2013 his move to put on hold the historic deal with the EU, amid continuing mass protest rallies.

He said he was forced by economic necessity and the desire to protect those 'most vulnerable'. The President still planned to attend the summit in Vilnius.

One day before the Vilnius summit Eastern partnership summit, the European Commission hinted that it was “refining its thinking” about holding trilateral trade talks with Ukraine and Russia.

However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised Russia's "Cold War" mentality and said Ukraine can still sign an EU pact. European leaders have strongly criticised Mr Yanukovych on his option to freeze the Association Agreement with the EU.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1052_en.htm
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Ukraine suspends EU trade deal, plans to renew Russia ties http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-suspends-eu-trade-deal-plans-to-renew-russia-ties/
Euro|Topics, 22.11.13: Kiev abandons EU course http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aeltere/NEWSLETTER-2013-11-22-Kiev-abandons-EU-course
Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, 25.11.13: Yanukovych’s failed poker game (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/4350371-yanukovych-s-failed-poker-game
BBC News, 25.11.13: Ukraine president firm over EU 'U-turn' amid protests http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25087162
Spiegel Online International, 25.11.13: Putin's Gambit: How the EU Lost Ukraine http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/how-the-eu-lost-to-russia-in-negotiations-over-ukraine-trade-deal-a-935476.html
Spiegel Online International, 25.11.13: Aborted EU Deal: Protests Rock Ukraine After Pull-Back http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/massive-protests-rock-ukraine-after-eu-trade-deal-called-off-a-935470.html
EUObserver, 27.11.13: Europe's failure on Ukraine: Three lessons http://euobserver.com/opinion/122226
BBC News, 26.11.13: Ukraine-EU trade deal 'big threat' to Russia's economy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25108022
Deutsche Welle, 26.11.13: Ukraine's Yanukovych to attend EU summit despite row http://dw.de/p/1AP9u
ESO: Background information: Tymoshenko on hunger strike over EU treaty / Protestors in Kyiv urge Yanukovich to sign EU pact http://www.europeansources.info/record/tymoshenko-on-hunger-strike-over-eu-treaty-protestors-in-kyiv-urge-yanukovich-to-sign-eu-pact/
EurActiv, 27.11.13: EU ‘refines its thinking’ on its Ukraine-Russia relations http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/eu-refines-thinking-eu-ukraine-r-news-531992
EUObserver, 27.11.13: Merkel criticises Russia on eve of Vilnius summit http://euobserver.com/foreign/122264
Deutsche Welle, 28.11.13: After Ukraine, now what? http://dw.de/p/1APc5
Deutsche Welle, 28.11.13: The pressure on Yanukovych increases http://dw.de/p/1APRi
EUObserver, 29.11.13: EU to Yanukovych: You are taking Ukraine 'nowhere' http://euobserver.com/foreign/122292
BBC News, 29.11.13: EU rejects Russia 'veto' on Ukraine agreement http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25154618
Deutsche Welle, 29.11.13: A frosty meeting in Vilnius after EU snub http://dw.de/p/1AQKO
Spiegel Online International, 28.11.13: Kiev Tug-of-War: Merkel Still Open to Ukraine Cooperation http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/angela-merkel-open-to-ukraine-cooperation-after-trade-deal-collapse-a-936155.html
EUObserver, 29.11.13: EU to complain to Russia on Ukraine http://euobserver.com/foreign/122299

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