The European Union is ready to sign a far-reaching political and trade agreement with Ukraine at the end of this week if there's a clear message from President Viktor Yanukovych, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said.
“If President Yanukovych were to give a clear message by (Tuesday, Dec. 17), we can clearly sign in connection with the European Council (meeting) at the end of the week,” Bildt said while arriving at the to the monthly EU ministers of foreign affairs meeting in Brussels on Dec. 16.
Ukraine which planned to sign the association agreement during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on Nov. 26-27, suddenly made an about face and opted for closer ties with Russia, which sent conflicting messages as hundreds of thousands of people have come out in protest, demanding closer ties with the EU.
According to Bildt, “doublespeak” is the best word to describe Ukraine’s current behavior by Yanukovych, which in his view is caused by divisions within the “regime” in Ukraine.
“(First, Yanukovych) said in Vilnuis that he wants to sign in the near future, the other day he said he was going to fire those who negotiated the (association) agreement,” said Bildt. “If you can make sense out of his policy, you’re welcome. I failed.”
