(VOVworld) – President Mykola Azarov on Friday said the Ukrainian government’s decision to suspend the process of signing an association agreement with the EU is tactical.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Wednesday to discuss the prospects for signing the Association Agreement with the EU. (photo: kyivpost.com)

He underlined that Ukraine’s strategic course towards European integration remains unchanged. His announcement was opposed by congressmen supporting the association agreement. The surprised decision was made just a few days prior to the summit of “Eastern Partners” in Vilnius in Lithuania where the Ukraine and the EU are expecting to sign the agreement. Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Boiko explained that Kiev suspends the signing in order to have more time to evaluate damages from losing the Russian and SNG markets and industrial deficit that Kiev wants to be compensated from the EU market.