Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko signed the landmark economic trade pact with the European Union today, prompting anger and hints at retaliation from Russia.
The leaders of Georgia and Moldova also put pens to EU “association agreements” at a ceremony in Brussels, in what was seen as a historic moment for the three former Soviet countries.
Mr Poroshenko placed a bold signature on the final chapter of the controversial landmark association agreement with the EU, calling it a “new perspective for my country”. It was a refusal to sign the deal last year by his predecessor Viktor Yanukovych which triggering months of protest and violence in Ukraine.
Russian anger at the deal was evident as a senior adviser to Mr Putin labelled Mr Poroshenko a “Nazi” and called the trade agreement “illegitimate”. The Kremlin distanced itself from the comments but deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin said the accord would have “serious consequences”.
The deal comes amid tense talks over potential extension of a week-long ceasefire which expires this evening. It was announced by Mr Poroshenko in an attempt to persuade pro-Russia rebels in the east of Ukraine to lay down their arms.
While the truce proved shaky, with bouts of fighting continuing throughout, indirect negotiations between Kiev and separatist commanders are scheduled to continue. In one positive gesture, pro-Russia insurgents in Donetsk released overnight four out of eight detained observers of the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe.
However, tank fire could be heard on the Ukrainian border near the town of Gukovo in Russia's Rostov region on Friday. A Telegraph correspondent was asked to leave a refugee transit camp in the area as the shelling started.
The EU association agreements signed today with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova lift trade tariffs and promise help with economic reforms, while stopping short of a pathway to membership.
The deals are seen as part of an ongoing struggle between Russia and the West to exert influence over former Soviet states. Moscow has offered Kiev membership in a customs union with itself, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and may raise its own tariffs in retaliation at the EU agreement.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that the US would consider new sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin failed to help defuse tensions in eastern Ukraine within “the next hours”.
Mr Putin appeared conciliatory when he asked parliament earlier this week to revoke a law allowing Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
But speaking of the EU trade accord Sergei Glazyev, one of his senior advisers, told the BBC: "Europe is trying to push Ukraine to sign this agreement by force.
“They organised [a] military coup in Ukraine, they helped Nazis to come to power. This Nazi government is bombing the largest region in Ukraine.”
Asked if he believed Mr Poroshenko was a Nazi, Mr Glazyev replied: "Of course."
Mr Poroshenko told CNN on Thursday that he tried to judge Mr Putin’s mood as diplomacy intensified over today’s deadline.
"Sometimes, the position of Mr. Putin is quite pragmatic, sometimes it is very emotional," he said. "I just try to find out the time when he is more pragmatic than emotional."
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