KIEV, Feb. 9 – Ukraine should "defend its national interests" in its talks with the European Union on the creation of a free trade area, President Viktor Yanukovych said on Wednesday.

At a meeting held with Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and government members, President Yanukovych noted that Ukraine was currently receiving different, sometimes "very conflicting signals from different sides" about the course of the negotiating process, and that the country should defend its national interests.

"Of course, we should defend our national interests during these negotiations. But our task is to reach a logical conclusion of the process, i.e. to sign an agreement on the creation of a free trade area with the European Union," Yanukovych said.