Brussels, 20/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 20 December, the European Council argued in favour of a democratic settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine, which would respond to the hopes of the Ukrainian population, and it also for restraint and respect for human and fundamental rights. “The people who are demonstrating with courage deserve all our support”, said Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel. She added that “we support those who demonstrate peacefully in pursuit of their demands”. “We support the aspirations of the Ukrainian people”, added UK Prime Minister David Cameron. “Europe is open to the Ukrainian people but not necessarily to the Ukrainian state. The Ukrainians need to decide themselves for their future and the future of their country, and no longer this government”, said Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskité. “Despite the obstruction from President Yanukovych and his team, it is very important that this enthusiasm (Ed: from the pro-European demonstrators) is not wasted”, said Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The European Council also recalled that the EU remains ready to sign the association agreement, including the deep and comprehensive free-trade area, as soon as Ukraine is ready and the conditions have been fulfilled. The Council also stressed the right that all sovereign states have to take their own decisions with regard to foreign policy without suffering undue external pressure - implying from Russia. France's President François Hollande stated that it was not necessary to start a bidding war. Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte gave his support to the action in Ukraine of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. (CG with LC, MD, FG, EH, JK, EL, AN, SP/transl.fl)