Brussels, 19/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 19 December, Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych criticised “the interference” of the West in supporting the pro-European demonstrations in Ukraine. “It is very important that there is no interference in our domestic affairs”, he said. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and several European foreign affairs ministers have travelled to Maidan Square, however. “I am categorically against those who come to our country to give us lessons”, he added.
During a meeting with a few journalists, including those from EUROPE, Ashton stated that Yanukovych himself has said on several occasions that he was going to sign the association agreement, that Russia's President Vladimir Putin has said he is not against the signature (if concluding the agreement does not damage the Russian economy), and that the EU is ready to sign. Thus “the political situation is one that doesn't seem to have reason not to sign”.
€20 billion support? Yanukovych reportedly rejected an offer “of about €20 billion over seven years” shortly before the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, according to a European official quoted by European media. According to EU estimates, the high range sum - in loans and subsidies - for Ukraine was between €19-20 billion (including macro-financial aid of €610 million if an agreement was reached with the IMF) if the agreement had been signed. On 17 December, the new foreign affairs minister in Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said he did not believe that the financial support offered by the EU was enough. “We made a proposal of financial and economic aid that was far from what was needed to save Ukraine from bankruptcy and to associate it economically and sustainably to Europe”, he said.
The EU has reiterated that this is not about a bidding war with Russia. Moscow offered a bailout plan of US$ 15 billion and a reduction in the price of gas to Ukraine on 17 December. Yanukovych has also announced that Ukraine could agree to “some clauses” of the customs union with Russia (see EUROPE 10987). (CG/transl.fl)