European Parliament President ‘Deeply Disappointed’ with Armenia, Ukraine

"The Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius marks an important step in [the] process" of bringing the EU closer to its eastern neighbors "by fostering stronger economic, political and cultural ties," said European Parliament President Martin Schulz on the eve of the Eastern Partnership summit, according to a press release issued by the European Parliament.

He continued: "I congratulate Moldova and Georgia on the planned initialling of the Association Agreements with the EU. I am deeply disappointed, however, that Ukraine and Armenia have abandoned plans to sign the Association Agreements at the summit. It is especially regrettable that the countries' decisions to reconsider their choices have been made under external pressure. We should say clearly and loudly that the economic and political pressure exerted by Russia against our eastern partners is simply unacceptable.

"I would like to stress that the door of association with the EU remains open and that we will never abandon the European hopes and aspirations of the peoples of the region."

The Vilnius summit on Nov. 28–29 includes representatives from the EU institutions and member states, as well as the six countries of the Eastern Partnership: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, reports the European Parliament.