EU Official Lays Out Plan To End Ukraine’s Crisis
KYIV, Feb 13 (Bernama) — European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule has presented a plan to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine, reports China’s Xinhua news agency.
“Following my talks here, I realised the need to take urgent steps towards constitutional reforms, the formation of a new inclusive government and holding free and fair elections,” Fule told reporters at a media conference here Thursday.
Fule said he was talking not about early elections, but about the regular presidential vote scheduled for March 2015.
The EU was ready to provide Ukraine with financial support if Kyiv implemented reforms needed to end the political turmoil, Fule said, without giving further details.
Earlier this week, the EU commissioner met Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders to hear their positions on possible methods to overcome the crisis, which was triggered by anti-government protests.
Rallies in Ukraine began last November against the government’s decision to suspend the signing of political and trade deals with the EU, in favour of keeping closer ties with Russia.
As the protests continued into the new year, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned as a concession to opposition demands. Yanukovych offered the prime ministership to the opposition but this was rejected.
To end the protests, opposition leaders are pressing Yanukovych to hold early presidential and parliamentary elections and implement constitutional change that would seriously curb the president’s power.
— BERNAMA