Czech PM: Ukraine’s decision based on economic, political situation

Ukraine’s refusal to sign a trade deal with the EU stems from the country’s present political and economic situation, Czech Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok said at the close of the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Friday. Prime Minister Rusnok said that Ukraine had made the decision based on a short-term rather than long-term perspective. He said that in his view the EU could have been more flexible as well, but what was important was the EU’s doors remained open. The Czech head of government said the Czech Republic was ready to help keep the process of Eastern partnership in motion by organizing a conference on the issue in Prague next spring.