EU warns Russia over pressure on Ukraine
Brussels, Safar 17, 1435, Dec 20, 2013, SPA -- The European Union warned Russia on Friday against applying pressure on Ukraine and other countries seeking closer ties
with the bloc, as the issue looms large over talks next month between
the two sides.
Ukraine's decision to suspend a landmark political and free trade
agreement with the EU last month has been widely chalked up to
Russian pressure. The former Soviet country, which is struggling
financially, accepted loans and cheaper gas from Moscow this week.
The EU's leaders emphasized "the right of all sovereign states to
make their own foreign policy decisions without undue external
pressure," in a joint statement issued at talks in Brussels.
They also said the EU remained ready to sign the deal with Ukraine,
while calling for "restraint, respect for human and fundamental
rights and a democratic solution to the political crisis in Ukraine
that would meet the aspirations of the Ukrainian people."
The decision by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to freeze the
association deal with Brussels and move closer to Russia has led to
huge pro-EU demonstrations and calls for his resignation, dpa reported.
-- SPA
19:12 LOCAL TIME 16:12 GMT
?????? :: ?????? :: ??? ??? :: ????
?? ??? - ???? ???- ????? ????? - ???? ???????- ????? ?????- English- Français
No comments:
Post a Comment