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EU hopes to discuss Association Agreement with Russia, Ukraine in Minsk August 26

The European Union hopes that the Minsk talks will provide the basis for giving a new impetus to the settlement in Ukraine

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BRUSSELS, August 25. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union is hoping to discuss the implementation of the Association Agreement with Ukraine at the talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders in Minsk on August 26.

The EU wants to exchange opinions with Russia and Ukraine on the implementation of the Association Agreement with Kiev, including a comprehensive free trade area, and explain again why this agreement is a positive factor for the region, a source in the European External Action Service told ITAR-TASS.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht will lead the European delegation to this discussion, the source said, but could not say whether the commissioner was going to raise the issue of Russian food embargo.

The European Union hopes that the Minsk talks will provide the basis for giving a new impetus to the settlement in Ukraine.

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger and Commissioner Gucht will lead the EU delegation to the talks.

The source said Ashton would express the EU’s concern about the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.

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