By: Oksana Bashuk Hepburn
Posted: 08/9/2013
Europe is waiting to hear whether its largest country, Ukraine, will join the EU or Russia on a free-trade agreement. If recent exchanges between President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart are indicative, there is a definite turn towards the EU. But there’s a hitch.
The EU needs Ukraine to comply with some key conditions before the association agreement is signed. Among these demanded reforms are a fix of improper elections and, most importantly, the release of jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko.