KIEV — Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, after a series of moves strengthening ties with Russia, sought to balance his foreign policy Friday, saying preparations for an association agreement with the European Union had to be accelerated.
An association agreement, which includes a free trade pact, has been under discussion for several years between Brussels and Kiev.
Eyeing a summit meeting in mid-October, Yanukovych said preparations had to be stepped up for signing an agreement.
“It is extremely necessary for us that the country sees prospects here. Since European integration remains one of the priority directions for our external policy, we have to map out effective measures today,” he told aides, Interfax reported.
Yanukovych also said work had to be intensified to secure visa-free travel between Ukraine and the EU bloc. At present, EU citizens are not required to have a visa to travel to Ukraine. But Ukrainian citizens are required by Western Europe to have a visa and provide guarantees that they will not stay to work in the country they visit.
(Reuters)