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Ukraine suspends preparations for EU trade agreement Ukraine suspends preparations for EU trade agreement
(35 minutes later)
Ukraine has suspended preparations for a trade deal with the EU.Ukraine has suspended preparations for a trade deal with the EU.
A government statement said the decision had been taken to protect Ukraine's "national security".A government statement said the decision had been taken to protect Ukraine's "national security".
Hours earlier MPs rejected a bill that would have allowed jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to leave the country - which the EU has demanded as a condition for the deal to proceed. Hours earlier MPs rejected a bill that would have allowed jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to leave the country - which the EU had demanded as a condition for the deal to proceed.
Ukraine had come under intense pressure from Russia not to sign the historic EU deal at a summit next week.Ukraine had come under intense pressure from Russia not to sign the historic EU deal at a summit next week.
The Ukrainian government said on Thursday that it was instead looking into setting up a joint commission to promote ties between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union.The Ukrainian government said on Thursday that it was instead looking into setting up a joint commission to promote ties between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union.
Russia wants Ukraine to join its own customs union with Kazakhstan and Belarus, which it sees as a prototype rival to the European Union.Russia wants Ukraine to join its own customs union with Kazakhstan and Belarus, which it sees as a prototype rival to the European Union.
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych was later quoted by AFP as saying Ukraine "will work further on this path, this path to EU integration," although it is not clear how this tallies with the suspension of preparations for the deal. Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych was later quoted by AFP as saying Ukraine "will work further on this path, this path to EU integration", although it is not clear how this tallies with the suspension of preparations for the deal.
Shouts of 'shame'Shouts of 'shame'
On Thursday MPs threw out six drafts of the bill which would have allowed Tymoshenko to travel abroad for medical treatment.On Thursday MPs threw out six drafts of the bill which would have allowed Tymoshenko to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The EU is sending a top envoy to Kiev.The EU is sending a top envoy to Kiev.
Stefan Fuele, European commissioner for enlargement, is travelling to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, for the second time this week.Stefan Fuele, European commissioner for enlargement, is travelling to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, for the second time this week.
The bill failed to pass after MPs from President Viktor Yanukovych's ruling Regions Party refused to cast their votes on any of the six proposed drafts.The bill failed to pass after MPs from President Viktor Yanukovych's ruling Regions Party refused to cast their votes on any of the six proposed drafts.
The drafts all fell short of the 226 votes needed.The drafts all fell short of the 226 votes needed.
"It is President Viktor Yanukovych who is personally blocking Ukraine's movement toward the European Union," Arseniy Yatsenyuk, parliamentary leader of Tymoshenko's opposition Fatherland group, told parliament after the vote failed."It is President Viktor Yanukovych who is personally blocking Ukraine's movement toward the European Union," Arseniy Yatsenyuk, parliamentary leader of Tymoshenko's opposition Fatherland group, told parliament after the vote failed.
Opposition MPs responded by shouting "shame" as the bill was thrown out.Opposition MPs responded by shouting "shame" as the bill was thrown out.
The legislation proposed that convicts be allowed medical treatment abroad.The legislation proposed that convicts be allowed medical treatment abroad.
Back painBack pain
Tymoshenko, 52, is serving seven years in jail after a controversial conviction on charges of abuse of power over a gas deal with Russia.Tymoshenko, 52, is serving seven years in jail after a controversial conviction on charges of abuse of power over a gas deal with Russia.
The EU has made clear it believes the judicial campaign against Tymoshenko has been politically motivated.The EU has made clear it believes the judicial campaign against Tymoshenko has been politically motivated.
She has been urging the authorities to transfer her to a German hospital so that doctors there can treat her chronic back pain.She has been urging the authorities to transfer her to a German hospital so that doctors there can treat her chronic back pain.
The EU is demanding her release as one of the conditions for signing an EU-Ukraine trade and partnership agreement in Vilnius, Lithuania, which starts on 28 November.The EU is demanding her release as one of the conditions for signing an EU-Ukraine trade and partnership agreement in Vilnius, Lithuania, which starts on 28 November.
It has been attempting to build closer relations with neighbours that were once part of the Soviet Union, and is expected to initial but not yet formally sign association agreements with Georgia and Moldova.It has been attempting to build closer relations with neighbours that were once part of the Soviet Union, and is expected to initial but not yet formally sign association agreements with Georgia and Moldova.