The European Union is urging Ukraine to act fast to implement democratic reforms and end the politically motivated prosecution of opposition leaders in order to integrate with the EU.
Brussels has put on hold a partnership agreement with Kyiv over the jailing of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and other concerns about Ukraine’s democracy.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele told Prime Minister Mykola Azarov Thursday that Ukraine must resolve those issues if it wants to see the agreement implemented, adding that “we cannot wait: the window of opportunity is open now.”
President Viktor Yanukovych vowed this week that the Tymoshenko case would soon be resolved. But at the same time prosecutors have accused the jailed opposition leader of organizing a murder over a decade ago.
