Ukraine approves EU deal despite Russian objections

[pampango]

Source: BBC

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov described the deal as a decision of historical significance - Ukraine's roadmap to a strong economy and high standards of living.

"We all want clean air and water, safe food, good education for our children, up-to-date medical services, reliable legal representation. All these are not abstract terms, but norms and rules that are already in place in the EU," Mr Azarov told ministers.

Russia, which ruled Ukraine for centuries until 1991, has said if the association agreement is signed its markets could be flooded with less-expensive European goods, and warned it could take retaliatory action.

Russia is pushing Ukraine to join a Kremlin-led customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to establish a "Eurasian Union" - a trade bloc similar to the EU, but without the commitments to democratic values and open competition which are fundamental to EU membership.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24151250

---

Russia will, indeed, not be happy about this. The flow of Russian natural gas to Ukraine this winter may be problematic.

[DetlefK]

1. "Brace yourselves: Cheap goods with european quality-standards are coming!"

[Berlin Expat]

2. The horror. The horror.

[pampango]

3. Just goes to show that you can play the "cheap goods from foreigners" card even

Last edited Thu Sep 19, 2013, 06:18 PM - Edit history (1)

when it makes no sense at all. Ukrainians have many economic concerns but "cheap" goods from the highly paid, unionized labor in Germany and Sweden would be a real reach.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

4. Those whacky Russians.....

.....acting like Russians will.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Ukraine Free To Choose Priorities, Partners – Putin

VALDAI, September 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia respects Ukraine’s right to choose its priorities and partners, including Kiev’s choice between closer economic cooperation with Moscow or European integration, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

“Today, Ukraine is an independent state and we respect it. And, of course, the choice of priorities, the choice of allies is a national sovereign right of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian leadership,” Putin said at a meeting of the annual Valdai Discussion Club, commenting on Ukraine’s plans to sign an association agreement with the European Union.

On Wednesday Ukraine’s government approved the draft European Union Association Agreement, moving the country one step closer to its final signing, which is slated for November.

Moscow has been increasing pressure on Kiev to join the Customs Union, which would – in effect – keep Ukraine under Russia’s sphere of influence. Although Ukraine has observer status in this bloc, it has made it clear it does not plan to take on full membership.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130920/183602034/Ukraine-Free-To-Choose-Priorities-Partners--Putin.html

[pampango]

6. Putin warns Ukraine not to sign EU-trade pact

Russian President Vladimir Putin again said Ukraine would face punitive protectionist measures if it signs up to an EU free trade deal in November, reports Reuters. He said Russia would be flooded by EU competitive goods. "We would somehow have to stand by our market, introduce protectionist measures," he said.

http://euobserver.com/tickers/121516

[joshcryer]

7. "introduce protectionist measures"

When the US does this to Cuba it's rightly decried...

[dipsydoodle]

8. Ukraine leader says on course for EU deals, stalls on Tymoshenko

(Reuters) - Ukraine's president said on Friday he was trying to resolve a standoff over jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko, whom European leaders want freed before a landmark summit, but that no decision had been made.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/20/us-ukraine-yanokovich-idUSBRE98J0EF20130920