WARSAW, December 19 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused the European Union of trying to dictate to Ukraine.
“We’ve been saying all the time: Let Ukraine make its own choice whether it will sign or not sign [landmark deals with the EU]. We will accept and will respect any choice,” Lavrov said after talks with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski.
“Brussels kept saying other things all this time. Ukraine was being called on to make a free choice in favor of signing an agreement with the EU. But that is not a choice but a diktat,” the Russian minister said.
Kiev stunned Europe last month by announcing that it was giving up pursuit of an association agreement offering closer trade and political ties with the EU, and opting instead for improved links with the Russian-led Customs Union.
Ukraine’s rejection of the EU deal has thrown the country into a political crisis, with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians attending protest rallies to demand the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych and the government, and for early elections.
The EU and Russia have accused each other of using strong-arm tactics to secure economic ties with Ukraine.
Lavrov also said Thursday that it was “at least not very polite” for foreign politicians to “take part in demonstrations against the legitimate authorities” in Ukraine. His remarks followed the appearance of Polish ruling and opposition party politicians at protests in Kiev.
“I will remind [you] that Radoslaw Sikorski had stressed publicly that we deal with legally elected and legitimate authorities in Ukraine,” the Russian minister said.
