KIEV, Feb. 15 - At the current stage of the development of relations with the European Union, the conclusion of the Association Agreement, which provides for the creation of a deep free trade area, is a priority for Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych said in an interview with the magazine "Ukraine and the World in 2013 - Global Agenda," a joint project of New York Times News Service & Syndicate and Segodnya Multimedia.

"I believe that at present there is sufficient political will on both sides to complete the process as planned," the head of state said.

According to the president, the transition of relations with the EU to a new quality format of political association and economic integration "is an important step towards further full-scale integration of Ukraine into the European Union."