German MP: Kiev Has Unrealistic Expectations of EU

Commenting on Monday's EU-Ukraine summit, Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee member Gernot Erler told German media that Ukraine's leaders have presented the EU with "a bag of ideas, demands and expectations," but have offered few details in return about Ukraine's plans for development and reform.

"There is a problem when it comes to expectations; Ukraine's expectations are taking an unrealistic direction," Erler told WDR radio Tuesday.

"The problem at the summit was that Ukrainian president Poroshenko had with him a bag of ideas, demands and expectations, including the question of a clearer perspective of EU membership for Ukraine, the abolition of the visa regime, the creation of a peacekeeping force to be placed in eastern Ukraine. However, within his bag were few details on Ukraine's development, on the progress of reforms. This is the problem."

Explaining the EU's decision to turn down Kiev's proposal of an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine, Erler stated that he saw it as a "dangerous" idea, noting that "it could lead to the entanglement of the EU into the conflict." The politician added that the discussion held with Poroshenko regarding this issue was "difficult."

The 17th EU-Ukraine summit took place on Monday in Kiev, and was the first such summit under the framework of the Association Agreement signed last November. The main topics of the summit were the implementation of the Association Agreement and its related reforms, ultimately aimed at the country's accession to the European Union.

Brussels officials attending the summit included European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and Johannes Hahn, the commissioner for the European Neighborhood Policy. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by President Petro Poroshenko.