Ukraine warned after ditching EU deal
The decision sparked new protests in the politically volatile country, with nearly 3,000 marching through the fiercely pro-Western city of Lviv close to the border with the EU.
The government unexpectedly announced Thursday it was halting preparations to sign an Association Agreement with the EU at a summit in Vilnius next week, a deal which would have marked a historic break from Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday denied putting pressure on Ukraine to back out of the deal, saying it was instead the EU which was blackmailing Kyiv.
“We’ve heard threats from our European partners against Ukraine — up to the point of helping them stage mass protests,” Putin said.
“This is pressure. This is blackmail. And whether Ukraine and the Ukrainian leadership bow to this blackmail will be clear in the coming days.”
Kyiv announced its pullout from the EU deal after lawmakers failed to come up with legislation that would have allowed jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko, the arch foe of President Viktor Yanukovych, to travel to Germany for medical treatment, a key condition set by EU leaders for the agreement.
“This is a missed opportunity,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement, while EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said it was a “disappointment” for both the EU and the people of Ukraine.
The U.S. State Department lamented that there had been still “ample time” to resolve the remaining issues ahead of the summit.
The Ukrainian government said its decision was forced by national security concerns linked to trade problems with Russia.
‘The last straw’