Ukraine Marks Progress in Association Talks With the European Union

KYIV, Ukraine, April 18, 2011 - Today, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel
Barroso started his official visit to Ukraine. In the meeting between the EC
President Jose Manuel Barroso with the Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych
both parties have noted a significant progress in the ongoing Ukraine-EU
negotiations. Both leaders consider the year 2011 to be a decisive year set
to define a strategic vision for Ukraine-EU relationships for years to come.

"I want to reconfirm our political will to complete the negotiations on
Association Agreement with the EU. We have had very productive talks with Mr.
Barroso on this matter today," said Viktor Yanukovych at today's press
conference. "If we maintain the current dynamics of the negotiations, we will
be able to approve a joint version of the document until the next EU-Ukraine
summit in December."

In his turn, the President of the European Commission said: "The year of
2001 will be a decisive year between Ukraine and the EU. We have a lot to
do." The President of the European Commission has also expressed his hope for
the talks on Association Agreement to be completed by the end of 2011.

The meeting with the higher EU official has also reconfirmed that the
European integration is the key priority for Ukraine's foreign policy. Being
asked about Ukraine's relationship with the Customs Union Of Russia, Belarus
and Kazakhstan, both leaders demonstrated their common position: Ukraine will
not become a member of the Customs Union, but will deepen it relationships
with its Eastern neighbours not affecting the EU integration plans.

The latest round of the Ukraine-EU talks on the Association Agreement
took place on April 4-8, 2011. Overall, Ukraine and the EU have held 18
rounds of talks starting March 5, 2007. The core of the Agreement is an
introduction of a free-trade zone between Ukraine and the EU. The Agreement
will stipulate different aspects of economic and scientific cooperation
between the EU and Ukraine as well as promote and enhance their political
collaboration in the future.

For more information, contact Maryna Khorunzha +380-443324784
news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine