European Union foreign ministers have failed to agree whether to boycott the Ukraine during the forthcoming Euro 2012 football tournament, due to the treatment of former Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko by the government.
"We are not at a stage to make a decision on attendance but will follow developments carefully," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton
According to AFP "long and heated" talks took place between the bloc's 27 foreign ministers, with some countries pushing for a total boycott and others preferring to engage with the Ukraine to make progress on human rights issues.
"I will listen to news the prime minister will bring tomorrow," she added, referring to diplomatically sensitive talks Tuesday between Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and EU officials.
The US ambassador to the Ukraine visited Ms Tymoshenko in hospital on Monday and has called for her release.
Ambassador John Tefft said the U.S. position “has been all along that selective persecution of Ms. Tymoshenko and members of her party is something we disapprove.”
Boycott forces Ukraine to postpone summit (09 May 2012)
Pressure increases on Ukraine over Euro 2012 boycott (03 May 2012)
German President cancels visit to Ukraine over treatment of ex-Premier (26 Apr 2012)
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