Brussels should encourage Ukraine's rapprochement with EU, says Rada speaker

19:27

Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn believes that the European Union should encourage Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU countries.

"Europe demands reforms [from Ukraine], however it does not want to provide for Ukraine's right to join the EU in an association agreement," Lytvyn said during his meeting with former president of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga on Thursday, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada said.

At the same time, the speaker said that the European choice of Ukraine does not mean that Kyiv will turn its back on Russia. He cited the words of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, that Kyiv is looking in all four directions and that Ukraine should stay where it is.

Lytvyn said that Ukraine's political elites should reach a consensus on the European choice of the country.

In turn, Vike-Freiberga stressed that Ukraine's powerful natural and human resources and favorable geographic location gives the country a special role and place in the world.

"This makes it [Ukraine] a key element between the East and the West," the ex-president said, adding that she would like to see Ukraine as a member of the EU.