The political crisis in Ukraine flared up in November 2013 after President Viktor Yanukovych announced the suspension of negotiations on the EU association and free trade agreement, opting instead to build closer ties with Russia.
Yanukovych's last-minute decision sparked pro-EU protests in Kiev, which quickly degenerated into bloody clashes with police and a violent takeover of power by pro-Western, nationalist forces in February 2014.
Ukraine’s newly-elected President Petro Poroshenko signed the EU association deal, earlier ratified by the European Parliament and the Verhovna Rada, in September 2014, but the implementation of its central, free trade, provision was pushed back to 2016 over Russia’s fears of an influx of illegal EU goods coming in via Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine hopes to enjoy visa-free travel to the EU in 2016 and the association agreement signed by all EU member —states already before the end of this year.
