Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych flies in to Brussels for a summit Monday seen as "a defining moment" in a long-delayed bid to seal a political and trade pact with the EU anchoring the ex-Soviet state closer to the West.
“This summit takes place at an important moment in our relations,” said European Union president Herman Van Rompuy. “There is now a historic opportunity to make a breakthrough in EU-Ukraine relations.”
An EU statement said the summit “takes place at a defining moment.”
At stake for both sides are hopes of signing a political pact — an Association Agreement — as early as November, coupled with a free trade deal, despite months of bitter rowing over rights, in particular the jailing of opposition leader and ex premier Yulia Tymoshenko and several of her former ministers.
