Window of opportunity is closing, EU ministers warn Ukraine

The foreign ministers of several EU countries gave Ukraine a discouraging report on the 25 April 2013 on its efforts to deepen ties with the bloc and suggested the jailing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko remained a serious obstacle.

However, and as the May deadline for signing a EU-Ukraine association agreement approaches, some EU countries were 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.

On the 14 May 2013 EurActiv reported that Lithuania, which takes over the rotating EU presidency on 1 July 2013, has given Ukraine extra time to meet the Union's conditions for signing a long-delayed association agreement.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Memo: Statement by Commissioner Štefan Füle following his meeting with Andriy Klyuyev, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-statement-by-commissioner-stefan-fule-following-his-meeting-with-andriy-klyuyev-secretary-of-ukraines-national-security-and-defence-council/

ESO: Background Information: Ukraine pardons Tymoshenko allies http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-pardons-tymoshenko-allies/

EurActiv, 30.04.13: EU countries divided over Tymoshenko case http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/tymoshenko-case-divides-eu-news-519436

EurActiv, 14.05.13: Lithuania gives Ukraine extra time to meet EU demands http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/lithuania-gives-ukraine-extra-ti-news-519698

EUObserver, 15.05.13: EU adopts legal basis for Ukraine treaty http://euobserver.com/foreign/120130

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