Ukraine has been moving closer to both an association and free-trade deal with the European Union, as well as observer status in the Russian-led Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Neither of the two statuses promises full integration. Because of this, Kiev believes they are not mutually exclusive. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara has said Ukraine sought to join all the Customs Union agreements that did not contradict its obligations to the EU.
After the release from prison of prominent opposition politician and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko in April, Ukraine started to receive positive signals from the EU. Read the story here.
