{Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych intends to sign an association accord with the European Union after all, EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton has said.}<\/p>\n
Despite Yanukovych ditching the deal last month under Russian pressure, Ashton said on Thursday after returning to Brussels from a two-day visit to Kiev, where she saw the huge pro-EU demonstrations, that it would go ahead.<\/p>\n
“He made it clear to me that he intends to sign the association agreement,” Ashton said.<\/p>\n
The announcement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin touted the economic benefits of joining a customs union, known as the Eurasian Union, with Russia and two other former Soviet republics, Belarus and Kazakhstan, in his bid to woo Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Putin said during during a state-of-the-nation address that he was counting on Ukraine finding a political solution to its crisis over Yanukovich’s decision to spurn the EU free-trade agreement in favour of closer economic ties with Moscow.<\/p>\n
“I hope that all political sides can successfully reach an agreement in the interests of the Ukrainian people,” Putin said.<\/p>\n
“I’m sure achieving Eurasian integration will only increase interest from our other neighbours, including from our Ukrainian partners.”<\/p>\n
Aljazeera<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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