KIEV, Aug. 29 – President Viktor Yanukovych said Thursday Ukraine will implement all conditions suggested by the European Union for signing political association and free trade agreements in November.

"Today, I see no obstacles to the signing of this document. Those conditions that were given to us by the European Commission, they will be met. I have no doubts here," Yanukovych said.

The comment is the latest assurances from the Ukrainian leadership that the country is committed to closer political and economic ties with the EU despite mounting pressure from Russia.

Ukraine hopes to sign the agreements at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in November and needs to implement several key reforms, including amending election legislation and reforming its judicial system.

Moscow has tried to encourage Ukraine to drop the EU integration plans and to join the Russia-led Customs Union instead, promising up to $9 billion in annual trade benefits.

Yanukovych said Ukraine will try to navigate the difficult path by taking into account “national interests.”

“We need to find pragmatic solutions, and our national interests will always be the basis for Ukraine's relations with both the European Union and the Customs Union,” Yanukovych said.

As the latest sign of pressure, Russia completely blocked imports from Ukraine for several days earlier this month with its senior officials suggesting that the trade restrictions will become permanent if Kiev signs the agreements with Brussels.

The tough trade restrictions threatened some of the country’s biggest companies, from confectionary Roshen to steel pipe maker Interpipe, tilting overall balance towards European integration.

Arseniy Yatseniuk, the leader of the largest opposition group Batkivshchyna, said that he will specifically ask Yanukovych to decorate Russian President Vladimir Putin with a medal for contributing to the pro-European sentiment in Ukraine.

"After the Vilnius summit I will ask President Yanukovych to award Putin with the Medal of Honor for the European integration of Ukraine,” Yatseniuk said. “It is a fact that the Russian Federation has raised pro-European sentiment in Ukraine.”

Yasteniuk also said that his group will vote in favor of the bills that are required for pro-European course to ensure the signing of the agreement in November. The bills are expected to be submitted and debated when Parliament resume sessions next week following summer recess.

"We, the Ukrainian opposition, are convinced of the correctness of Ukraine's course towards the EU and will do everything to make sure the agreements are signed,” Yatseniuk said. (tl/ez)