EU to sign association deal with Ukraine next week

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Warsaw March 12, 2014. Merkel is visiting Poland to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has travelled to Poland to discuss the crisis in Ukraine with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Merkel says they agreed the EU should sign an association agreement with Ukraine as soon as possible.

"We agreed that we must sign the political part of the association agreement as soon as possible, preferably at the next EU Council summit. Goods from Ukraine will be able to be exported to Europe without customs barriers. We also agreed on the administrative help for Ukraine." said Angela Merkel, German Chancellor.

Merkel warned that Europe will impose tougher sanctions on Russia, if Moscow does not reverse course in Crimea and start to engage with international mediators to resolve the crisis. The sanctions include visa bans and asset freezes on those it considers responsible for Russia's actions in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday to decide whether to impose the sanctions, one day after Crimea's referendum.

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