19 October 2011
European Union leaders decided to postpone a visit by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych that was planned for October 20 until “conditions are more conducive to making progress in bilateral relations,” Euractiv, the EU news portal reported yesterday. European Commission spokesperson Karolina Kottova said the decision to cancel the visit was not just based on the conviction last week of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, but due to a “wider context of concerns over the rule of law in Ukraine.” Brad Wells: Vice Prime Minister Andriy Klyuev is still slated to visit Brussels on October 19-20 for further on an Association Agreement, which is moving into the final stages. Ukraine has made significant progress in moving closer to the EU since Yanukovych came to power and the Association Agreement represents a milestone for both sides. Cancellation of Yanukovych’s visit is a clear signal that given the current political situation in Ukraine the EU is no longer certain to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine (which includes an embedded Deep & Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement) in December as planned over concerns about democracy and the rule of law in Ukraine.