European Socialists slam Moscow's actions to prevent signing of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement

The European Socialists grouping has described as unacceptable the actions by Russia on preventing the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and urged the European People's Party (EPP) to give their full support to the upcoming summit in Vilnius, at which the document is to be signed.

"The Russian authorities' recent actions against Ukraine, particularly against Ukrainian imports into Russia, are utterly unacceptable. It is obvious that Russia wants to deter Ukraine from strengthening its relationship with the European Union. As a sovereign country, Ukraine should have full independence to decide its foreign policy. Ukraine must have the right – without any external pressure – to enhance its relationship with the EU. And the European Union must support Ukraine's ambition for closer ties with the EU," reads a statement made by President of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda.

In addition, he called on the EPP to support Ukraine's stronger ties with the EU.

"I particularly want to appeal to the EPP to give their full support to the summit between the EU, Ukraine and other neighborhood countries in Vilnius this autumn, to ensure it is successful. We need full support for a quick ratification of the association agreement with Ukraine in order to strengthen Ukraine's position in relation to Russia," Swoboda said.

The group described the recent actions by Moscow towards Kyiv as "saber-rattling."

"The agreement is due to be signed at the upcoming summit of European neighborhood countries in Vilnius, Lithuania, on November 28-29," the group said.