"I will mention Ukraine. It is a test-paper and a wire of success. They know this and we, of course, keep reminding them to make good use of the situation (…). The geopolitical success of the European continent will depend on Ukraine's being on the European path and being part of Europe in the future," the minister said on Thursday.
"The fate is being decided as we speak. That's the reason for all the attention and many visits," Linkevičius said at a meeting with Lithuanian ambassadors.
The EU is considering the possibility of signing the agreements of association and free trade with Ukraine during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November, however, the signing can be impeded by the European indignation over continued imprisonment of Ukraine's ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko.
Speaking about the agreement perspective, Linkevičius said on Thursday: "It is not impossible."
The EU and Ukraine finalized negotiations on the Agreement back in late 2011 but the EU still demands more reforms from Ukraine before signing it. Brussels wants Kiev to proceed with reforms of the election system and prevent "selective justice", a term used for persecution of political opponents.
"The pressure will continue up until the summit and the coming autumn. It is they who make the decisions, and this is what we have been emphasizing – we are not coming to import our lifestyle, attitudes, or success stories. They have to do this themselves. We tell them: we believe that you, Ukrainians, are in Europe, we believe that your future is in Europe and we believe you will believe this yourselves and spend the time well, as it is a historic opportunity. Time is not on our side," said the Lithuanian diplomacy chief.
The Eastern Partnership summit will be held in Vilnius in the framework of Lithuania's presidency over the EU Council.
