Is Merkel challenging Putin?

On the eve of the Vilnius summit of the Eastern Partnership, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Moldova and Georgia support against Russian pressure, hinting Ukraine that its efforts had not convinced Berlin of the European choice and Armenia that it could not rely on privileges from the EU.

Merkel expressed confidence that association agreements would bring Moldova and Georgia closer to Europe than ever before. She called Armenia an important eastern partner of the EU but warned that it would have no privileges like Georgia and Moldova. Armenia decided to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The German chancellor reminded Ukraine about the obligations of EU association. She said that EU foreign ministers had chosen three fields of special attention in December 2012: reform of electoral laws, an end to selective justice ( for example, the case of Yulia Timoshenko) and implementation of association.

Merkel reminded Russia that countries had the right for their own vectors of integration. No third state had the right to veto the right. She emphasized that the Eastern Partnership and bilateral agreements the EU wanted to sign were not against Russia and would be beneficial instead. The chancellor added that the EU was ready to compensate any commercial and energy pressure the eastern partners may experience.Merkel expressed confidence that the Vilnius summit would become an important step towards transformation of partners of the East, and give them a path towards the future.

On the eve of the Vilnius summit of the Eastern Partnership, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Moldova and Georgia support against Russian pressure, hinting Ukraine that its efforts had not convinced Berlin of the European choice and Armenia that it could not rely on privileges from the EU.Merkel expressed confidence that association agreements would bring Moldova and Georgia closer to Europe than ever before. She called Armenia an important eastern partner of the EU but warned that it would have no privileges like Georgia and Moldova. Armenia decided to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.The German chancellor reminded Ukraine about the obligations of EU association. She said that EU foreign ministers had chosen three fields of special attention in December 2012: reform of electoral laws, an end to selective justice ( for example, the case of Yulia Timoshenko) and implementation of association.Merkel reminded Russia that countries had the right for their own vectors of integration. No third state had the right to veto the right. She emphasized that the Eastern Partnership and bilateral agreements the EU wanted to sign were not against Russia and would be beneficial instead. The chancellor added that the EU was ready to compensate any commercial and energy pressure the eastern partners may experience.Merkel expressed confidence that the Vilnius summit would become an important step towards transformation of partners of the East, and give them a path towards the future.