The European Commission said on Wednesday it would launch talks early next year for a broader co-operation agreement with Ukraine, now led by a government more sympathetic to Moscow, including a possible free trade deal.
The EU issued the statement on the eve of the first visit to Brussels by Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, appointed in August after four months of political deadlock.
Yanukovich, friendlier towards Russia than previous governments led by allies of President Viktor Yushchenko, says Ukraine can strike trade deals with both Brussels and Moscow.
"The enhanced agreement should take a comprehensive and ambitious approach and include a free trade area," the EU executive said, adding the Commission would put the plan to EU member states. But officials restated longstanding EU policy that membership of the bloc was not to be considered for some time.
"In the most immediate future, it is still our view that Ukraine is best served in its own interest by completing the important reform process," Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said, citing problems with corruption and judicial and economic reforms EU trade officials have previously said any free trade agreement with Ukraine was contingent on the ex-Soviet state joining the World Trade Organisation - still to be achieved.
Yushchenko proclaimed EU membership as his top foreign policy goal following the 2004 "Orange Revolution" which helped propel him to power. In the heady days after his election, Kiev produced "road maps" aimed at meeting EU requirements.
Talk of a fast track to membership has now all but ceased. But Yushchenko agreed to appoint Yanukovich, the rival he defeated in a re-run of a rigged 2004 presidential election, after securing guarantees that overall policy goals of integration with the West would remain intact.
Addressing ministers in Kiev, Yanukovich said EU integration depended on how new power sharing arrangements with Yushchenko would work. Interfax Ukraine news agency quoted him as saying that an EU trade deal did not rule out a similar agreement with Russia. Russia backed Yanukovich in the flawed 2004 poll and ties with Yushchenko have often gone sour. A row over gas prices with Russian giant Gazprom prompted a brief cut-off of supplies both to Ukraine and to Moscow's west European customers.
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