KIEV, Aug. 25 - President Viktor Yanukovych said he attaches a high priority to European integration.

"European integration remains a priority aspect in Ukraine's development," the president said on Kiev's central square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, on Tuesday on the occasion of the country's Independence Day.

"First over the years of independence we've been close to the acquisition of associated membership in the European Union," he said.

Yanukovych expressed confidence that the Ukraine-European Union summit, which would be held this autumn, would be an important step forward on the Euro-integration way of our country.