EU claims of Russia putting pressure on Ukraine are inappropriate - Putin's press secretary
MOSCOW. Nov 26 (Interfax) - European Union leaders' accusations that Russia allegedly exerted pressure on Ukraine, prompting it to halt preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, are groundless, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin, told Interfax on Tuesday.
"The president has articulated our position more than once. On the whole, it has been explained at different levels. In this case, it is inappropriate to speak about any pressure," Peskov said.
Russia respects and is ready to welcome any decision made by Ukraine because it is a sovereign and internal matter of Ukraine, he said.
In a joint statement on Monday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman van Rompuy accused Russia of exerting pressure on Ukraine.