Azarov said during a televised interview on November 24 that "the EU fully understands our economic situation" and that no one in Brussels has ruled out signing the agreement. Last week, Kyiv announced it was suspending preparations to sign the long-negotiated agreement at an EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on November 28-29. On November 22, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said Kyiv could sign the agreement next year. Azarov said the government was forced to postpone signing the agreement because it was unable to negotiate compensation for harm to Ukraine's economy that would stem from "defensive measures" threatened by the Russia-led Customs Union.
"The question became: either we pause now and resolve the question of compensation, resolve the question of saving jobs, resolve the question of wages -- or we sign the [EU association] agreement and, without any compensation at all, and take head on all of the defensive sanctions of the Customs Union," Azarov said. "We could not take on such a responsibility, so we decided to put the question on hold." Azarov also said opposition politicians are sensationalizing the government's decision as "a tragedy" in order to "destabilize the social and political situation."
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