(VOVworld)- According to EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said he “intends to sign” a trade deal with the EU.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych (L) and EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton. Photo: www.usnews.com

Catherine said Thursday in Brussels, after a two-day meeting in Ukraine, that the EU has been ready to find ways to help Ukraine to effectuate the process of coalition with the EU and conduct necessary negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in order to borrow money from these organizations. Previously, Ukraine and the EU decided to sign the historic convention coalition at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Litva on November 29. Unfortunately, Ukraine decided to prospone the signing at the last minute, which has triggered a critical wave of protests conducted by supporters of the EU integration process during the last 2 weeks.