Ukraine approves EU deal despite Russian objections

Ukrainian government ministers have approved a draft agreement with the EU, which includes a free trade pact.

The EU and Ukraine also took steps towards the creation of a “common knowledge and innovation space”, during a conference organised by the Lithuanian presidency of the EU on the 30 September and 1 October 2013.

In September 2013, EUObserver and EurActiv also reported on the warnings and threats made by Russia against the Ukrainian move of signing a pact with the EU.

Speaking at a conference in Yalta, Sergei Glazyev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Russia would economically ruin Ukraine if it took the EU path. On the 23 September, Russia issued one more warning saying Moscow could respond with protectionist barriers if its former Soviet ally joined a free trade pact with the European Union.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Ukrainian parliament says it will adopt pro-EU laws swiftly http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukrainian-parliament-says-it-will-adopt-pro-eu-laws-swiftly/

Deutsche Welle, 18.09.13: Ukraine commits to EU association deal http://www.dw.de/ukraine-commits-to-eu-association-deal/a-17099146

EUObserver, 23.09.13: Ukraine and EU ridicule Russian threats http://euobserver.com/foreign/121531

EurActiv, 24.09.13: Russia reiterates warnings to Ukraine ahead of EU summit http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/russia-reiterates-warnings-ukrai-news-530671

ESO: Background information: EU - Ukraine: In Yalta about progress towards signing the Association Agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-eu-ukraine-in-yalta-about-progress-towards-signing-the-association-agreement/

ESO: Background information: Ukraine suspects Russian sabotage of EU push http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-suspects-russian-sabotage-of-eu-push/

EurActiv, 11.10.13: EU, Ukraine inch forward on ‘common innovation area’ http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/eu-ukraine-inch-forward-common-i-news-531015

RIA Novosti, 28.10.13: No Russian Ban on Ukrainian Imports After EU Deal – Minister http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131028/184390712/No-Russian-Ban-on-Ukrainian-Imports-After-EU-Deal--Minister.html

---