The pressure was at the level of threats - Kozhara about signing an agreement with the EU
Viktor Yanukovych's decision to postpone the signing of an association agreement with the EU led to pressure from the US and the EU.
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Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara stated this during questioning at a court hearing in the Yanukovych treason case, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“On the 20th, a decision (of the Cabinet of Ministers) was made and signed. This decision was communicated to the European Commission Ambassador Tombinski and the US Ambassador Pyatt on November 25-26. Ukraine completed all the procedures, but immediately felt crazy pressure from our European partners on the eve (of the Vilnius summit). I arrived in Vilnius on November 22 and immediately got involved in negotiations with representatives of the European Commission. There was very strong pressure for Ukraine to sign the document,” Kozhara said.
According to him, at the end of the summit, negotiations were held with the leaders of individual EU states and the European Commission.
“The negotiations were conducted by the European side. Already beyond the boundaries of diplomatic etiquette, at the level of ultimatums and threats,” added the former head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
English version :: Read in English The pressure was at the level of threats – Kozhara on signing the agreement with the EU