The Ukrainian government has unanimously backed a draft EU-Ukraine association treaty. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov described the move as historic.
He said, however, that partnership with the European Union and participation in the trilateral Customs Union set up by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan were not mutually exclusive. But most analysts fear that the door to Customs Union membership for Ukraine is now closed and the Ukrainian economy should brace for the worst.
On Wednesday, September 18, the Ukrainian Cabinet gave the “green light” to the association deal and a free trade agreement with the EU. Premier Azarov explained that Ukrainian goods would now get easier access to European markets.
