Europe easing up on Ukraine?

The European Parliament said ratifying an association agreement with Ukraine might give Europe more leverage over the country. Members of the European Parliament recommended that an EU-Ukraine association agreement should be signed "without delay." "While urging Ukraine to review the conviction of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, MEPs argue that the agreement could serve as a lever to bring about the changes needed in the country," Parliament said in a Thursday statement. Tymoshenko was unable to attend a Thursday session of an appeals court in Kiev because of unspecified ailments. She's serving a seven-year prison sentence on charges she abused her authority when she helped broker a gas deal with Russian gas company Gazprom in 2009 while serving as prime minister. Her Western advocates say the charges against her are a political ploy carried out by the pro-Kremlin government in Kiev. The European Parliament added that a postponed meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych should go ahead but warned "it should be possible to suspend the (association) agreement temporarily should basic fundamental principles be breached."