VILNIUS, Lithuania - A video released by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite's office late on Nov. 28 gives a glimpse at negotiations about signing a trade treaty continuing well into the night at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.
During an aperitif before the official
dinner of all heads of delegations, top European officials make a
series of last-minute attempts to persuade Ukraine’s President Viktor
Yanukovych to sign the deal, which would push Ukraine closer to
Europe and away from Russia’s orbit.
In the footage, which lasts more than four
minutes, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite approached
Yanukovych and are heard talking about the benefits of potential
signing for Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is heard saying
“We expected more.”
Yanukovych, however, looking solemn and
pouting his lips, repeats the same message to all conversation
partners.
“The economic situation in Ukraine
is very hard,” he says. “And we have big difficulties with
Moscow.”
“I would like you to hear me. I was
alone for 3.5 years in very unequal conditions with Russia … one to
one,” Yanukovych says.
Top European officials said Ukraine had
a chance to sign the association agreement until the very end, and
the decision was up to the president. But the president insisted that
first the EU has to provide some compensation for Ukraine.
The cabinet delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov, attempted to negotiate a road
map to signing the deal at a later date, but was unsuccessful –
primarily because European leaders stood ready to sign the deal and
saw no point in additional documents.
Yanukovych, who flew in late on Nov.
28, had meetings with Barosso and Herman Van Rompuy, the president
with the European Council. He was also scheduled to meet Merkel and
French President François Hollande early on Nov. 29.
Kyiv Post deputy chief editor Katya Gorchinskaya can be reached at [email protected]
