Earlier in the day Poroshenko called the signing "historic," despite negative reaction from Moscow. Russia's deputy foreign minister said Ukraine's move is "fraught with serious consequences."
Russia's deputy foreign minister said Ukraine's move is "fraught with serious consequences." A Kremlin spokesman also told Russian state media that Russia will take action to protect its economy if it is negatively affected.
The EU trade agreement was at the center of the political uprising that drove former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych from office earlier this year and later led to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, where loyalty to Russia runs high. The conflict has turned deadly with clashes between Ukrainian soldiers and pro-Russia separatists in the east.
With the end to an official cease-fire in Ukraine looming on Friday, witnesses said thousands of Ukrainians lined up at a Russian border crossing late Thursday, driving cars packed with personal belongings, in hopes of fleeing violence in eastern Ukraine. The United Nations refugee agency said Friday that some 110,000 people have fled to Russia from Ukraine, while some 54,000 Ukrainians have been displaced within the country.
Earlier Thursday, President Poroshenko called on Russia to support his peace plan with “actions, not words." In an address to the Council of Europe, Poroshenko also accused Moscow of waging an “undeclared war” by backing and arming the separatists....................http://www.voanews.com/content/poroshenko-signs-ukraine-eu-free-trade-agreement/1946060.html
27/6/14
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Related:
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Putin’s aide (Dmitry Peskov) says discussion of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement after signing
L'association Moldavie-UE et le libre-échange avec la CEI compatibles (PM moldave)
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Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have signed partnership agreements with the European Union, in a move strongly opposed by Russia...........
ReplyDeleteThe pact - which would bind the three countries more closely to the West both economically and politically - is at the heart of the crisis in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said making Ukraine choose between Russia and the EU would split it in two.
A ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine is due to end on Friday.
Mr Putin called for a long-term ceasefire to allow talks between the government and separatists.
Meanwhile the United Nations refugee agency said there had been a sharp rise in the numbers of displaced people in eastern Ukraine in the past week, with 16,400 people fleeing the area..............http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28052645