Brussels, 18/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The visit by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, scheduled for 20 October, has been deferred until conditions are more propitious for making progress on bilateral relations, Herman Van Rompuy announced on Twitter on Tuesday 18 October. The meeting was to been the occasion of a meeting between Yanukovich and Council President Herman Van Rompuy and Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The EU thus trusts that Ukraine will make progress on rule of law, and on the independence of the judiciary, the Commission has announced, specifying that the decision to defer the visit was taken “by common accord”. The verdict at the trial of the former prime minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, has complicated relations between the EU and Kiev and could delay signature of the association agreement. (CG/transl.jl)