Lithuanian officials urge EU against isolating Ukraine

At the meeting of Nordic-Baltic foreign ministers ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the Lithuanian vice-minister said the EU should keep channels for cooperation and dialogue open in order to make Ukraine stay on the path of European reforms.

"To isolate Ukraine is the easiest solution, it's more difficult to propose a solution," Ignatavičius said in a statement.

EU foreign ministers are discussing relations with Ukraine ahead of the upcoming European Football Championship and general elections in the country.

Western Europe is considering boycotting Ukraine following the Ukrainian authorities' treatment of opposition representatives, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Ignatavičius said that despite the fact that the existing situation in Ukraine was causing concern, the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, drafted last year and initialed on 30 March, was the key incentive for Ukraine to continue reforms.

"We therefore should not postpone its signing for an indefinite period of time," Ignatavičius said. According to the vice-minister, it has been proved already that such agreements step up reforms, and are not a gift for the Ukrainians but are rather a reform plan and a force encouraging them.

Ignatavičius has also underlined that Ukraine is not the only one of EU partners expected to respect human rights.