UKRAINE: Russia wins concessions by getting Ukraine, EU to delay free-trade pact until 2016

In a concession to Russia, Ukraine and the European Union agreed delay implementation of a major trade agreement until the start of 2016, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. They also appeared to be preparing to make more concessions after the ratification of the agreement, scheduled for next week.

EU Trade Commissioner Karl de Gucht said in Brussels that Ukraine, Russia and EU also agreed on extending unilateral trade preferences for Ukraine until the end of 2015 as well. They allowed Ukraine to boost exports to EU by 14 percent in the first half of this year, Barroso said.

De Gucht said these measures “give breathing space to discuss whatever problem may arise and then it will be up to the three parties concerned to see what they do after Jan. 1, 2016. I hope by then we come to a solution," Reuters quoted him as saying.

The EU member states are yet to agree to the delayed start, which Barroso called “a compromise” among Ukraine, Russia and EU during trilateral consultations.

The three sides also agreed to continue discussing Russia's complaints about the effects of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement on its markets on Nov. 17, President Petro Poroshenko said in Kyiv. He said the issues will be raised at the Association Council, the only body that can amend the text of the agreement after it is ratified and comes into effect. It was originally designed to fine-tune such agreements.

Both the Ukrainian and the European Parliament are preparing to ratify the Association Agreement, an overarching political agreement, on Sept. 16 in a synchronized session, which will be broadcast via video links, President Poroshenko announced at Yalta European Strategy conference in Kyiv.

“I am sure that will be one of the most important historic moments,” Poroshenko said. Kyiv Post+ offers special coverage of Russia's war against Ukraine and the aftermath of the EuroMaidan Revolution.

The delays are part of Russia's campaign to thwart Ukraine's democratic progress and aspirations for closer EU integration, a drive that began after the EuroMaidan Revolution forced President Viktor Yanukovych out of power on Feb. 22. The most extreme aspects, of course, are Russia's military invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and the Kremlin's backing of a separatist war in eastern Ukraine. But Russia has also used trade as a weapon and cut off supplies of Russian natural gas to Ukraine while imposing import bans on many Ukrainian products.

The EU-Ukraine trade agreement was signed in June, and the technical preparation for its ratification by the European parliament is being done in record terms – 10 days instead of the usual three months. Its provisional application was supposed to start on Nov. 1, but after the new deal only the political part of the deal will start to work on that date.

A part of the reason for the rush with ratification was to cut time for Russia to bully Ukraine into backing out of the agreement, or amending the text to incorporate Kremlin's suggestions.

Russia has been trying to derail the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union for years, using increasingly more aggressive tactics, from trade wars to real war in Donbass. It has also threatened to impose additional tariffs and other barriers on Ukraine, allegedly to protect its markets from illegal European goods. Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said on Sept. 12 Russia was preparing a response in case the trade deal comes into effect.

In the meantime, Russia also rolled out close to 2,400 objections and suggested amendments to the Association Agreement, which was initialed and sealed by the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Poroshenko said that there will be no changes to the text of the Association Agreement before ratification. However, this might change soon after ratification once the Association Council starts its work.

Although Ukraine's foreign ministry said that the decision to postpone application of DCFTA was a “gesture of solidarity with Ukraine,” many in Ukraine and abroad saw it as another diplomatic victory by Russia, and feared that more is yet to come at the Nov. 17 Association Council, the body that typically starts to tweak association agreements to fix parts that prove dysfunctional after a year or more in operation. In Ukraine's case, the first meeting is set just 17 days after the Association Agreement comes into effect.

“We tried to do our best to prevent this scenario, but couldn't, ” one EU country diplomat said in Kyiv.

Kyiv Post deputy chief editor Katya Gorchinskaya can be reached at katya.gorchinskaya@gmail.com

The EU and Ukraine are obviously afraid of Russia.

Putin wins another round.

In a short time, the EU will agree to lift sanctions on Russia because they have shown "good faith" in bringing about peace, and Crimea will be forgotten.

After all, "It was always Russian." they will say. Complete appeasement.

The EU has shown itself to be spineless and hypocritical caring nothing about the people of Ukraine or its fight for democracy. It is only interested in its own economic interests and appeasing Putin.

That's what Victoria Nuland's "FCUK EU" was all about - creating trouble for EU in their own backyard.

EU wised up. In the meantime, Christians will continue to kill Christians in Ukraine, until they also wise up. Sadly it will not happen until neocon-propped Kiev junta falls.

Only fools did not see it coming. "FCUK EU" meant to tie EU's and Russia's hands in Syria and ME to be free to support Islamofascists in their conquest.

Intermarium and ME bundled together in one.Unfortunately for necons, their "brilliant" plan backfired. They are excellent con artists, but poor planners.

I have no idea why any country would want to associate itself with the EU. Look around. All of the countries except a few of the wealthiest most powerful in the north are in debt slavery to the EU and its banks. They can't vote themselves out, while their leaders line their pockets. EU is being over-run by hordes from northern Africa and the Mideast, bringing disease and terrorism. They have no intention of assimilating.

Why does Kiev want to be part of that? I'd get it if they weren't signing deals with anyone, and charting their own course as a neutral buffer. That would've involved not waging war on its own citizens and not getting others to bail them out. There might be a time if Turkey goes crazy that Russia is all there is to stop the chaos from spreading into Ukraine. Then what? Do you really think the EU or NATO would save Ukraine?

That's what Victoria Nuland's "FCUK EU" was all about - creating trouble for EU in their own backyard.

The Russkies have been training folks since 2006 in order to create another Transnistria, this one set in Ukraine. Many of the "separatist" leaders were in Duginist training camps preparing for what is happening today.

There was no Jewish/NATO/EU conspiracy to take over Ukraine like what your NWO websites claim. There was no "Soros" or Nuland conspiracy to "create trouble for the EU," and Russia is not an enemy of Islam. It is helping Iran with their nuclear program as we speak, and is creating its own Islamic caliphate in Chechnya. A previous Russian puppet in Ukraine even sold the Iranians advanced missiles, which were supposed to be sold to Russia but "somehow" got redirected to Russia's allies in Iran instead.

Sadly it will not happen until neocon-propped Kiev junta falls.

Soon it will be a "Neo-Con propped Estonian junta," and a "Neo-Con propped Latvian junta", as Russian propaganda is already directing its ire against those two countries, both of whom are NATO members, and you, the dutiful Russkie liar, will be telling us to do nothing as Russia gobbles up more countries with their "separatist" movements.

I have no idea why any country would want to associate itself with the EU.

You guys are stupid, as the Association Agreement is the same one countries like Israel has. It is not an agreement to become a member of EU, but for trade and setting standards.

Why does Kiev want to be part of that?

Ukraine wants it, number one, because the association agreement makes anti-corruption reforms mandatory. Secondly, because it will help their economy by improving trade between countries.

This is bad for Russia because a non-corrupt Ukraine would be free of its control.

That would've involved not waging war on its own citizens

These people aren't Ukrainian citizens. They are Russian citizens sent from Moscow. The only Ukrainians among them are Communist types and other freaks who make up a minority even amongst the Russian speaking minority.

There might be a time if Turkey goes crazy that Russia is all there is to stop the chaos from spreading into Ukraine.

Russia would be happy for there to be chaos provided it only hurts NATO. Hence Russia's close friendship with Iran and their aiding and abetting their nuclear program.

Do you really think the EU or NATO would save Ukraine?

What do you care? You hate the EU and NATO and want Russian hegemony over the whole world.

Reuters article is saying

Ukraine will continue to enjoy privileged access to the EU market until that date, he said, but, in a concession by Brussels, it will not have to cut duties on imports from the EU in return.

So Ukraine gets access to EU market, but does not have to allow untaxed access to their own market for EU companies. This seems like EU is actually giving big help to Ukraine while giving Putin something he can present as victory for his own uninformed public so he can back off without losing face.

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