Print - Yanukovych: Russia Deal Won't Hamper Ukraine's EU Integration - Novinite.com December 19, 2013, Thursday // 01:20 Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych. The agreements recently signed with Russia in no way obstruct Ukraine's opportunities for European integration, according to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych thus in effect reiterated his country's commitment to a EU perspective. The question of whether Ukraine has given up on the EU to forge closer ties with Russia has become a heated topic after the government decided not to sign an Association Agreement with the Union. The move has triggered a massive protest wave in Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities. Over this week, Russia announced that it will buy Ukrainian sovereign bonds worth EUR 15 B. The Ukrainian government has made it clear that it sees EU integration in pragmatic terms and hopes to get better economic terms in the association agreement.