WARSAW, Poland — Poland's foreign minister said Ukraine's key cooperation deal with the European Union was in jeopardy because the former Soviet republic lags in justice system standards.
Radek Sikorski said Monday that Ukraine's justice system still needed improvements, especially its electoral law and regulations concerning prosecution. The EU believes that jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has not been given a fair trial and insists that the matter be resolved before the deal can be signed.
The signing of the agreement is scheduled for the fall in Vilnius. It would be a major step in Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.
Poland supports Ukraine's European aspirations, but Sikorski said: "There will be no signing if Ukraine does not do what it should do."
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