KIEV, Ukraine, May 26 (UPI) -- Moscow is trying to coax Kiev back into its sphere of influence with natural gas though the Ukrainian president said he would pursue EU membership.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was blasted by opponents for reaching an extended natural gas deal with Moscow in exchange for a long-term lease for the Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea. Critics charged he was moving the government too close to former patrons in the Kremlin.
The former Soviet republic is being coaxed back into Moscow's sphere of influence with natural gas though Yanukovych said he wants his country to join the European Union.
"We are ready to sign the association agreement this year," he was quoted by Bloomberg News as saying. "We want the prospects of Ukraine entering the EU to be included in this accord so that the accord would not be empty."
Kiev gets more than half of its natural gas from Russia, which also ships the bulk of its natural gas supplies for European consumers through Ukrainian territory.
Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom halted shipments through Ukraine in early 2009. Kiev got supplies flowing again shortly after the two-week stoppage but Yulia Tymoshenko, who was prime minister at the time, is accused of abusing power in the controversial deal.
Yanukovych wants a better gas deal adding Russia "was, is and will be our strategic partner."
