Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, and Moldova’s Prime Minister Iurie Leanca signed the association and free trade agreements with the European Union. Finally, these countries found their path to a bright European future. According to European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, there is nothing into agreement that “might harm Russia in any way.” These documents aim to shape the common future and prosperity for EU and these post-Soviet nations, he added.
Now, when the paperwork is done, it is time to launch a process of integration into European economy and markets. In case it works out, this will be followed by visa regime abolishing. “Today Georgia is taking a big step towards free Europe,” Irakli Garibashvili said in his speech at the signing ceremony.
Petro Poroshenko, in its turn added that the pact has everything the people of Ukraine need. Besides, he pointed out that the day of entering into agreement became a “historic day, perhaps the most important for Ukraine after the declaration of independence." Ukraine’s economic integration and political association with the EU is a chance for the nation. And this chance will be taken as the reforms are due and overdue, the president noted. Russia’s government still argues against the association pacts and prepares a range of measures to protect the economy from the consequences the free trade zone between Ukraine and EU might lead to. Dmitry Peskov, the Press Attaché for Russia’s president, said that signing of the EU association agreement is the sovereign right of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. “But Russia will bring security measures in case the pacts affect badly the Russian economy,” he noted.