"We are certainly interested that Ukraine's path toward the EU and toward certain standards, especially those stipulated in the association agreement will be uninterrupted," Merkel said.
She added that Germany will await the Dutch decision on Ukraine association following the recent referendum, which would be determined together with EU institutions.
French President Francois Hollande, who hosted Merkel in the city of Metz 20 miles west of the German border, reiterated Paris’ and Berlin’s support for Ukraine as it pursues EU integration.
On Wednesday, 61.1 percent of Dutch voters rejected the EU-Ukraine association deal’s ratification in the advisory referendum, according to preliminary results ahead of their April 12 publication.
Even if the majority of voters say no to the EU-Ukraine association agreement, its free trade zone component that took effect on January 1 is expected to nonetheless be implemented.
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement establishes a political and economic association between Kiev and Brussels. The Netherlands is the last EU country to ratify the 2014 deal to this effect.
