This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25134682

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
EU summit shows no sign of reviving Ukraine deal EU summit shows no sign of reviving Ukraine deal
(about 9 hours later)
European leaders appear to have made no progress on reviving a landmark trade pact with Ukraine at the first day of an EU summit in Vilnius. European leaders appear to have made no progress on reviving a far-reaching association agreement with Ukraine at an EU summit in Vilnius.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich abruptly froze plans to sign the trade and reform deal last week, under pressure from Russia. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly froze plans to sign the trade and reform deal last week, under pressure from Russia.
EU leaders have been trying to persuade him to change his mind. The Ukraine agreement, the summit's centrepiece, would have been a major step towards eventual integration.
The deal was planned as the highlight of a summit aimed also at building ties with other East European states. But progress was made with two other ex-Soviet states, Georgia and Moldova.
Protests Both initialled association agreements on Friday, the closing day of the summit, with diplomats hopeful that these can be signed next year.
But Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite told the Agence France-Presse news agency that EU "arguments did not reach Ukraine president's ear and mind". Another ex-Soviet state, Azerbaijan, signed an agreement to simplify procedures for certain categories of visa.
"So far we see that positions have not changed," she said.
And when asked how negotiations went, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said: "They didn't.
"It's over," he told The Associated Press.
Pro-EU protests are continuing in Ukrainian cities against the government's decision to back out of the agreement.Pro-EU protests are continuing in Ukrainian cities against the government's decision to back out of the agreement.
Mr Yanukovych has dismissed an EU condition for signing the agreement - that Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition leader, be freed from jail. President Yanukovych defended his refusal to sign, by saying the EU was not offering adequate financial aid to upgrade Ukraine's economy.
He has requested more EU financial aid. But he said Ukraine was still committed to signing the association agreement "in the near future".
The dispute has increased tension between the EU and Russia, with Ukraine complaining it is becoming a "battleground" between the two. He also rejected an EU demand to free Yulia Tymoshenko, the imprisoned former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition leader.
EU leaders said in a statement that they "strongly disapprove" of Moscow's pressure on Ukraine not to sign - while Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the EU of "blackmail". In other summit business, UK Prime Minister David Cameron raised concerns about the free movement of people in the EU. Britain is planning to restrict access to welfare benefits for new immigrants, when labour restrictions are eased in January.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is expected to have talks with Mr Yanukovych on Friday, said on arrival in Vilnius that she had "no hope" of the agreement being signed "this time". "But the door is open," she added. 'Really close'
In other summit business, UK Prime Minister David Cameron raised concerns about the free movement of people in the EU. Britain is planning to restrict access to welfare benefits for new immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria, when labour restrictions are eased in January. At a news conference on Friday, EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the parties were "really close" to signing the association agreement, but added: "We need to overcome pressure from abroad."
Speaking about Russia, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was unacceptable to have "any third-party involvement" in a bilateral agreement negotiated between the EU and another state.
French President Francois Hollande rejected the suggestion the EU should pay Ukraine compensation for upgrading its economy.
"We cannot, like the Ukrainian president would like it, insist on such equivalence, namely to insist that we pay Ukraine to get into an association agreement," he said. "No, we won't pay."
Like other EU leaders, he said the door remained open for Ukraine to sign the agreement at a later date.
EU leaders said in a statement earlier that they "strongly" disapproved of Moscow's pressure on Ukraine not to sign - while Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the EU of "blackmail".
Analysts say Russia worked hard to undermine the EU agreement with Ukraine, which it sees as a strategically vital partner.
On the one hand, it offered Kiev loans and price discounts. On the other, it threatened painful trade sanctions and higher gas bills.
'EU candy''EU candy'
The two-day event, billed as the third Eastern Partnership Summit, is being held in the capital of Lithuania, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.The two-day event, billed as the third Eastern Partnership Summit, is being held in the capital of Lithuania, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
Initial political association agreements with Georgia and Moldova are due to be signed, as well as a visa agreement with Azerbaijan. The association agreement with Ukraine was aimed at promoting democratic values and economic co-operation.
However, the centrepiece of the summit had been the association agreement with Ukraine. Such agreements, which promote democratic values and economic co-operation, are seen as a key step towards EU membership. President Yanukovych told German Chancellor Angela Merkel late on Thursday that the economic situation in Ukraine was "very difficult".
On arrival in Vilnius, President Yanukovych met the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. No details were given. "I have been one-on-one with Russia for three and a half years under very unequal conditions," he said.
In a Ukrainian TV interview earlier, he accused the EU of offering his country an inadequate amount in loans to help reform the economy.In a Ukrainian TV interview earlier, he accused the EU of offering his country an inadequate amount in loans to help reform the economy.
The EU has offered to lend 610m euros (£510m; $828) in macro-financial assistance, provided that Ukraine continues to meet the conditions of an IMF stand-by loan of 11.15bn euros, agreed in 2010.The EU has offered to lend 610m euros (£510m; $828) in macro-financial assistance, provided that Ukraine continues to meet the conditions of an IMF stand-by loan of 11.15bn euros, agreed in 2010.
Mr Yanukovych said Ukraine would need at least 20bn euros a year to cover the costs of upgrading its economy to "European standards".Mr Yanukovych said Ukraine would need at least 20bn euros a year to cover the costs of upgrading its economy to "European standards".
"For three years in succession they [EU leaders] have shown this candy in pretty wrapping to us," he added. "We don't have to be humiliated like this. We are a serious country, a European one.""For three years in succession they [EU leaders] have shown this candy in pretty wrapping to us," he added. "We don't have to be humiliated like this. We are a serious country, a European one."
Defending the EU's offer, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said: "The Ukrainian economy needs huge investments but these are not costs. They represent future income, more growth, more jobs and more wealth.Defending the EU's offer, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said: "The Ukrainian economy needs huge investments but these are not costs. They represent future income, more growth, more jobs and more wealth.
"The only costs that I can see are the costs of inaction allowing more stagnation of the economy and risking the economic future and health of the country.""The only costs that I can see are the costs of inaction allowing more stagnation of the economy and risking the economic future and health of the country."
'European Time' 'European family'
Prominent Ukrainian opposition politician Vitali Klitschko, who is also in Vilnius, said he hoped the agreement would be signed after all.Prominent Ukrainian opposition politician Vitali Klitschko, who is also in Vilnius, said he hoped the agreement would be signed after all.
"We Ukrainians want the changes," the world boxing champion added. "We want to live with the European family, with European rules, with Europeans' life standards.""We Ukrainians want the changes," the world boxing champion added. "We want to live with the European family, with European rules, with Europeans' life standards."
The Ukrainian president has attacked EU demands to free Tymoshenko, saying: "What does the European Union have to do with this? Is the European Union a court?"The Ukrainian president has attacked EU demands to free Tymoshenko, saying: "What does the European Union have to do with this? Is the European Union a court?"
In a message from her prison cell in Kharkiv, Tymoshenko called on EU leaders not to let her continued imprisonment block the association agreement.In a message from her prison cell in Kharkiv, Tymoshenko called on EU leaders not to let her continued imprisonment block the association agreement.
"If Yanukovych takes a positive decision, I sincerely ask you [EU country leaders] to sign the agreement without any preconditions, including my release," she said in the message, read out by her daughter Eugenia."If Yanukovych takes a positive decision, I sincerely ask you [EU country leaders] to sign the agreement without any preconditions, including my release," she said in the message, read out by her daughter Eugenia.