Ukraine’s prospect of signing a key Euro-integration deal this month remains questionable. Its big business suggests delaying the move by at least a year, while parliament has stalled a vote that could release ex-PM Tymoshenko.
Kiev may sign the EU Association Agreement, a free trade agreement that paves the way for eventual membership in the union, at the EU’s Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on November 28-29. However it faced strong resistance from Russia, which wants Ukraine to be part of the Moscow-led Customs Union along with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Ukrainians themselves are also split in their opinion over their country’s strategic course.
The split was underlined at a meeting of leaders from Ukraine’s major industries and unions with President Viktor Yanukovich. At the closed-door session they voiced their concern that Ukraine’s battered economy is not ready to be opened up to its strong Western neighbor.
