Ukraine signs EU trade accord

Ukraine and the European Union signed a partnership and co-operation agreement that could open the way to a free-trade area between the two sides, Reuter reports from Luxembourg.

Ukraine's President, Leonid Kravchuk, signed the accord at a ceremony during a meeting of EU foreign ministers, making his state the first country of the former Soviet Union to conclude an EU partnership deal.

The accord stresses the importance of democracy, human rights and a market economy, and offers Kiev most favoured nation status.