Ukraine, EU share same views on European integration, but have some differences as well, says Yanukovych

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that Kyiv and the EU have much in common in their vision of the European integration of Ukraine.

"During the meeting with [Polish] President Bronislaw Komorowski and [Slovak President] Ivan Gasparovic we have felt that we have much in common. This is not only the Carpathian region, because we are Carpathian countries, but also approaches to and views on the integration of Ukraine into the European Union, and the reforms that we need to continue at present. And the plan that has been proposed to us by the European Commission should be executed by November 2013," Yanukovych said after tripartite talks with Komorowski and Gasparovic in Wisla (Poland) on Thursday. According to the Ukrainian president, Kyiv will greatly benefit from these reforms. "These are reforms that will bring us closer to legal, democratic, economic and technical standards," he said. At the same time, Yanukovych said that differences in approaches between the EU and Ukraine were natural. "Those differences in the views which exist between Ukraine and the European Union are quite natural. As Ukraine is going on a difficult, complex path, like every country that has taken the path of European integration," the president said. He noted that the countries, which are friends of Ukraine, understood the situation and helped the country in its progress towards rapprochement with the EU, "so that we could achieve our ultimate goal - the signing of the Association Agreement in good shape."