BRUSSELS, Aug. 20 – The European Socialists grouping has described as unacceptable the actions by Russia on preventing the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and urged the European People's Party to give their full support to the upcoming summit in Vilnius, at which the document is to be signed.

"The Russian authorities' recent actions against Ukraine, particularly against Ukrainian imports into Russia, are utterly unacceptable. It is obvious that Russia wants to deter Ukraine from strengthening its relationship with the European Union. As a sovereign country, Ukraine should have full independence to decide its foreign policy. Ukraine must have the right – without any external pressure – to enhance its relationship with the EU. And the European Union must support Ukraine's ambition for closer ties with the EU," reads a statement made by President of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda.