Last-Minute Freeze Of The EU-Ukraine Deal Is Bad, But Not Hopeless

On September 12, the EU decides to postpone the implementation of crucial trade deal with Ukraine in a major concession to Russia. But things are not as depressing as you might think.

Ukraine’s President Poroshenko is seen on a tv monitors as he addresses both European and Ukrainian parliaments during a live videoconference between Kiev and Strasbourg. Photo: Reuters

by the VoxUkraine Editorial Board, Hromadske International

produced by Maxim Eristavi

What We Need To Know:

✓ the delay was a major concession to Russia;

✓ EU markets remain open for Ukraine, the delay can have moderate positive effect for the war-torn Ukrainian economy;

✓ the delay could trigger the reform stalemate in Ukraine;

✓ Russia gets additional time and tools for bullying post-revolutionary Ukraine;

Click for our multimedia explainer:

Last-Minute Freeze Of The EU-Ukraine Deal Is Bad, But Not Hopeless