Gryshchenko: EU prepared to sign Association Agreement if Ukraine handles high-profile criminal cases

The European Union confirms its readiness to sign and ratify the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, but notes the need to solve the problem of high-profile criminal cases, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko said on May 17. "The EU confirms its readiness to sign and ratify the Association Agreement. At the same time, it stresses the need to solve the problem of particular high-profile criminal cases," he said.

Preparations for signing the Association Agreement go on, the minister said. The agreement stipulates the functioning of a free trade zone even before the ratification process is complete, he said.

"The option is provided by the agreement; the possibility and expediency of the temporary use of the free trade zone provisions will be considered after the signing or in the final stage of preparations," he said.