The EU supports a peaceful, political resolution for the Ukraine crisis and and is ready to help Ukraine overcome its economic troubles through aid and reforms, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said on from Kiev in his third visit in three weeks.
“We are ready to step up our efforts, together with international partners, to help Ukraine in dealing with difficult economic situation with reform agenda and assistance,” Fule said.
“My main message is that only one plan can work here: a Ukrainian plan agreed by Ukrainians and implemented swiftly,” Fule added after talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, and opposition leaders.
Fule said that from the talks he has been holding in recent weeks he gathers there is a need for urgent steps to be taken on constitutional reform - the opposition wants the President stripped of some of his extensive powers- and formation of the new inclusive government (another opposition demand), ensuring free and fair elections. He added that an investigative panel initiated by the Council of Europe should start work as soon as possible , a policy ensuring respect and protection for rights and freedoms, end of intimidations, harassment, quick and transparent investigations of acts of violence should be implemented, journalists should be free to do their job and injured protesters should be transferred to hospitals by ambulances and not by the police.
Demonstrations first broke out in Ukraine at the end of November when Yanukovych refused to sign a free trade and political association pact with the EU as planned and opted instead for a €15 billion bailout from Russia.