Merkel: Ukraine can go to Eurasian Union as long as it is voluntary

[pampango]

Germany’s Angela Merkel has said Ukraine is free to “go to” Russia’s “Eurasian Union”, amid signs of a new willingness to make peace with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

She mentioned Ukrainian “decentralisation”, a deal on gas prices, and Ukraine’s “trade relations” with Russia as elements that could bring about an accord.

"And if Ukraine says we are going to the Eurasian Union now, the European Union would never make a big conflict out of it, but would insist on a voluntary decision," Merkel added.

Some EU diplomats see Merkel’s ARD remarks on the Eurasian Union as a rhetorical statement meant to underline that Ukraine’s foreign policy is its sovereign choice. But others fear Berlin is making a deal with Moscow over the heads of Brussels and Kiev.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/125331

If Ukraine wants to make such a 'voluntary' decision (either way with respect to the EU or the Eurasian Union) that would be fine. They have a parliamentary election coming up in October to provide a mandate for the decision.

I still wonder why it cannot belong to both. Many countries belong to more than one trading treaty or group. What's the problem with having a trade agreement with both Russia and Germany (as well as the other EU and Eurasian Union member countries)?

As much as Germany apparently values its trade with Russia, I question the concerns of "other diplomats" who worry that Merkel will make a deal to "give" Ukraine (all or part) to Russia. This is not 1938 Europe when the UK 'gave' Czechoslovakia to Germany to achieve 'peace in our time'. (Although perhaps Merkel could work out a deal to get back the parts of Germany granted to Poland after WWII. Redrawing post-WWII border change 'mistakes' seems to be in vogue.)

[TwilightGardener]

1. They should be free to choose their trading/economic partners--if they suddenly want

to join up with Russia's dealie, that's their business. No loss to the US in any meaningful way, and I'm not sure what the EU loses, since they already have plenty of basket cases in their midst. It's Putin that wouldn't let them join the EU, and he's afraid of an anti-Russian, western-leaning neighbor (which he stupidly reinforced by invading). Merkel is modeling the proper behavior with the expectation that Putin will be shamed into reciprocating.