You're reading: Leaders of EU, Ukraine seek to forge closer ties

BRUSSELS — The leaders of the European Union and Ukraine are meeting in Brussels to try to forge closer ties, but the EU remains concerned about what it says are "political prosecutions" in the ex-Soviet country.

The most prominent case is that of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been convicted of overstepping her authority while negotiating a gas deal with Russia in 2009. She says she’s innocent and accuses President Viktor Yanukovych of throwing her in jail to bar her from last October’s parliamentary elections.

In January, Ukrainian authorities stepped up their legal campaign against Tymoshenko, accusing her of organizing the murder of a businessman nearly 20 years ago.

EU officials expect, however, to announce a €610 million ($804 million) aid package for Ukraine at Monday’s summit.