Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Yulia Tymoshenko intends to monitor the process of concluding an agreement on association and a free trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union. Leader of the BYT and ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko intends to monitor the process of concluding an agreement on association and a free trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union while in opposition to the current authorities.

"Our essential task is to make sure that Ukraine and the European Union at last conclude the agreements on association and a free trade zone. We will oversee the dynamics of preparation of the documentation and ensure that it is finally signed," she said at the summarizing press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.

Tymoshenko claimed that signing the agreement on free trade zone with the EU would be "a great step forward" for Ukraine.

In addition, she promised not to let Ukraine enter any international associations that "contradict the European integration strategy" of Ukraine.

"We will not let Ukraine enter any international associations that can constrain our national sovereignty, our rights as an independent state, and we will thoroughly guard it, as ... one of the directions in our work will be to protect Ukraine's independence during Yanukovych's term as president," she said.