The leader of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction, Oleksandr Yefremov, has said he does not think that the Ukrainian government's decision to suspend preparations for the signing of an association agreement with the European Union will negatively impact relations between Ukraine and the EU.

"I do not anticipate such a risk," Yefremov said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

"If today we manage to sort out problems and disputes that exist in our economic relations, I believe that everything will be fine in the end," he said.

"But if we allow them to rule us and tell us what to do from the very beginning, we may be heading for trouble, and no one will respect us and Ukraine's voice will not be heard any more," he said.

The cabinet's recent decision did "not entail any catastrophe," he said.

Ukraine should continue to perfect its laws, raise standards of living and develop technical standards in order to promote Ukrainian exports to the European market, Yefremov said.

"The government said: let us pause and try to understand what is happening in our economy and then try to restore relations with our main partners," Yefremov said.