You're reading: Expert: Kyiv has every chance to sign Association Agreement with EU in 2013

Ukraine has every chance to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union in 2013, President of the Open Policy Analytical Center Ihor Zhdanov has said. 

“The signing of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, is quite realistic today,” he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Zhdanov stressed the importance of the deadline – May 1, 2013 – for the fulfillment of Ukraine’s obligations that was approved at the summit.

“At least something has to be done, in particular with the politically motivated cases – they have to resolve the problems with [former Interior Minister of Ukraine] Yuriy Lutsenko and [former Ukrainian Prime Minister] Yulia Tymoshenko… Some progress should be also demonstrated in other spheres. Only then will the Association Agreement be signed,” the expert said.

Zhdanov stressed that neither the Ukrainian, nor the European sides have an action plan in the case of the Association Agreement not being signed in 2013.