BRUSSELS, Oct. 22 – A deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU is better for Ukraine than the Customs Union with Russia, said Kim Campbell, former Canadian Prime Minister and head of the International Advisory Board of Ukraine's Foundation for Effective Governance.

Campbell said: "Yes [it's better], because Russia does not impose obligations with respect to political standards in Ukraine."

"A country that wants to join the EU gets carrots and sticks. In other words, European legislation has to be implemented, and very difficult reforms have to be conducted," she added.

Campbell attached particular importance to the free trade area between Kiev and Brussels.