BRUSSELS, Feb. 25 - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has said that the EU is ready to sign and ratify the Association Agreement with Ukraine, recognizing its European aspirations, even before the Eastern Partnership summit in November.

"The EU hopes to sign and ratify the Association Agreement, including a deep and comprehensive free trade area, by the time of the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, as the recognition of the European choice of Ukraine," he said in Brussels on Monday at a press conference held after the EU-Ukraine summit.