“Unfortunately, the E.U. remains hesitant, which raises two questions: Who will win if Ukraine and the E.U. fail to sign the Association Agreement? And will European capitals assume responsibility for the consequences of not signing the Association Agreement with 46 million Ukrainians?,” wonders Yelisieiev.
“First, not signing the Association Agreement will be a clear “lose-lose” situation for both the E.U. and Ukraine. It will be an illogical and tragic missed opportunity, a huge disappointment for Ukrainians who are truly Europeans, and a significant geopolitical failure for E.U. foreign policy. If the E.U. cannot rise to the challenge in its neighborhood, how can it expect to be taken seriously elsewhere in the world?
Failure to sign the Agreement risks affecting the security situation in the region. The Association Agreement contains political guarantees for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Those who are against the Association Agreement challenge the notion of an independent and stable Ukraine, a key factor for regional security,” the ambassador believes.
READ ALSO: The Sabotage of European Integration
“Unfortunately, so long as the European Union fails to take a decisive strategic decision on the place of Ukraine in its foreign policy priorities, there will be endless pretexts to delay bringing Ukraine closer. My words should not be interpreted as rejecting the need for Ukraine to deliver on reforms. We are committed to that — not to win praise in Brussels, but for the sake of our citizens,” Yelisieiev notes.
