KIEV, Nov. 10 - President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration is much less optimistic now than two months ago about Ukraine’s chances of signing free trade and visa-free travel accords with the European Union.

Serhiy Liovochkin, the chief of staff at the Yanukovych administration, said the talks appear to be “very difficult” ahead of a summit between Ukraine and the EU due on Nov. 22 in Brussels.

The comment indicates a shift of optimism over the past six weeks, and comes after many international leaders have criticized Ukraine for problems during the local elections on Oct. 31.

At the summit, Ukraine was hoping to sign the association accord with the EU that would include free trade and visa-free travel arrangements between the entities.

For example, Liovochkin said on Sept. 20 that he was “full of optimism” that the accords will be signed at the summit in November.

But things changed rapidly after the local elections as many international experts have criticized the Yanukovych government for poor transparency that had made the elections less democratic.

The elections revealed a polarized Ukraine with ultra-nationalist party Svoboda performing strongly in western parts of the country, and the ruling Regions Party crushing opponents everywhere else.