The EU Foreign Affairs Council as expected has not taken any decision concerning the possible signing of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, but is ready to do so at any time before the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, if Kyiv meets the necessary conditions.

Linas Linkevicius, the foreign minister of Lithuania, which is currently presiding in the EU, said this after a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.

"I think it was predictable that we will not take any decision, as I said this before the meeting," the minister said.

"I can confirm that no decision has been taken. I believe this is good, as we also did not make a negative decision. The door remains open."

He also noted that branches of European institutions are involved in the procedures aimed at the Association Agreement with Ukraine.

"I'm not speaking about the Council of Ministers, and, if necessary, we will gather again, while the European Parliament is also involved – the Cox-Kwasniewski mission will again return to Ukraine and President Barroso will also send his representatives from the European Commission – so we will continue our dialogue with Ukraine," Linkevicius said.

He also said that Ukrainians "have to fulfill necessary conditions, as they promised to do."

"We'll see, maybe the Verkhovna Rada will be fruitful tomorrow – this would help a lot, as we have to move forward. Putting the emotions aside and assessing fairly to what extent the conditions were fulfilled - then we will be able to make a decision – not today, as I said, but I would not rule out that we will return to this issue. We can do this on any day, not excepting the very last moment in Vilnius. Everything will depend on the situation in Ukraine.

"We need leadership from the Ukrainian leaders, especially from the Ukrainian president, as he have the power and influence," Linkevicius said.

"The moment of truth is coming. These 10 days before the summit will be crucial."