Sums must add up for Ukraine's EU deal, says Yanukovych

[FarCenter]

In a televised meeting with three former Ukraine presidents, Yanukovych said a deal between Ukraine and the EU could still be signed in March, but only if better financial terms were offered. He said the country stood to lose billions in trade with Russia - regarded as a key agent in the breakdown of talks - if an EU deal was signed.

"We want to achieve conditions that satisfy Ukraine, Ukrainian producers, the Ukrainian people," he said in the meeting. "If we find understanding and if such compromises are reached, the signature will be put [on paper]."

He stressed financial concerns were at the heart of the matter: "Any reforms require funding. When there is not enough funding, the reforms are slowed down."

Following the meeting, Yanukovych had discussions with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton after her arrival in Kyiv. Ashton's spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said on Twitter it had been a "substantial meeting [with] President Yanukovych, all relevant issues discussed." She added the talks went for three-and-a-half hours.

http://www.dw.de/sums-must-add-up-for-ukraines-eu-deal-says-yanukovych/a-17286397

[dipsydoodle]

1. Yes - the problem is the black hole of lost exports to Russia and Belarus etc.

If the EU were able to make up for those losses they would already be doing so now by duplication and the Ukraine's economy would be stronger.

The EU had offered €1 million which Yanukovych had turned down. The IMF had also offered loans but conditional on Ukraine increasing the price of gas to consumers to demonstrate its ability to repay.

Currently Ukraine is c. $30 billion down to Russia with a $10 billion payment due soon'ishi. The degree to which they are in the merde may not be apparent to some of the protesters some of whom may also be attaching more importance to getting hold of Schengen Visas so's they can decamp anyway.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

2. The future of Ukraine is within the EU,

not as a province in Putinstan.