U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt has said that the United States and the European Union are disappointed at the Ukrainian government's decision to suspend the preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU.

"The U.S. and the EU are disappointed at the Ukrainian government's decision to suspend the preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU," the diplomat said in a video address posted by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on Friday.

"The EU offered Ukraine an historic opportunity to strengthen the platform of European future for its people as well as show international financial institutions and investors its commitment to democratic reforms.

"We support the vast majority of Ukrainians who want such a [European] future for their country, and we welcome the fact that the EU is keeping the door open," Pyatt said.

"The U.S. believes that Ukraine's integration with Europe is the best path towards economic prosperity and democracy."

As reported, on November 22, the U.S. called on Ukraine to adopt the laws necessary for the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU in late November.

The U.S. is disappointed at the Ukrainian government's decision to defer the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Friday morning.

"If the reports are true and if the decision is the Ukrainian government's final decision before Vilnius, we're disappointed. We believe there was ample time to resolve all remaining obstacles to signing the association agreement in Vilnius with sufficient effort and commitment," Psaki said at a briefing on Thursday.