In the wake of Ukraine’s announcement that it will not sign an association agreement proposed by the EU, at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit on November 28 and 29, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy have released a joint statement, on November 25, that they “strongly disapprove of the Russian position and actions” in the current context.
Der Standard remarks that —
It is rare for the leaders of the Union to be so openly critical of President Vladimir Putin. They are emphasising that the EU’s offer is still on the table […] We are ‘aware of the external pressure that Ukraine is experiencing […]The European Union will not force Ukraine, or any other partner, to choose between the European Union or any other regional entity,’ [added Van Rompuy and Barroso]. This must have sounded like a serious insult to Putin.
Factual or translation error? Tell us.