"Europe's trust in Ukraine is diminishing. The possibilities to rectify the complicated situation exist, but it is up to the Ukrainian people to decide whether to use these possibilities or not and whether to choose the path towards getting closer to Europe or the way of self-isolation," the President underlined said.
Grybauskaitė visited Tymoshenko, sentenced last year, in a Kharkov hospital. The president is later scheduled to go to Kiev to meet with Tymoshenko's political opponent Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
According to the president, due to delayed reforms, especially in the sphere of human rights, Ukraine's EU perspective is becoming increasingly vague. Therefore, unambiguous and rapid decisions on the part of Ukraine are needed for maintaining further cooperation and mutual confidence. Legal reform, discarding the relicts of post-Soviet repressive law, is a key priority, the statement said.
The Ukrainian government's decision to move Tymoshenko to hospital where she will be under the care of German doctors is a positive sign. However, this is only the first step on the path towards European values. Respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic values is a major precondition for the EU integration of Ukraine, Grybauskaitė said.
"Ukraine's European perspective will depend on such factors as ensuring for Yulia Tymoshenko the right to adequate medical treatment, behavior with imprisoned opposition leaders, respect for human rights, and implementation of internal reforms," the statement says.
The Ukrainian authorities' treatment of Tymoshenko might lead to a boycott of the European Football Championship to be held in the country later this year.
Tymoshenko was transferred to hospital from prison where, she says, she was beaten by prison guards.
