Germany on Friday told Ukraine the "window of opportunity" for integration with the European Union could close, as Kyiv scrambles to find a solution to the imprisonment of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko that has held up an association deal.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, wrapping up a two-day visit to Kyiv, said he believed Ukraine understood the time pressure as the clock ticks down to a key summit at the end of November.
President Viktor Yanukovych, who met with Westerwelle on his crunch visit, for the first time indicated a solution to the impasse over Tymoshenko could be in sight, without giving details.
“My impression is that all those in Ukraine understand the seriousness of the situation and have recognised the time pressure,” Westerwelle said. “We still have an opened window of opportunity, and it is not to be excluded that this window of opportunity could also once again close.”
