Former European Parliament President Pat Cox has said he is confident that Russian pressure forced Ukraine to make the decision to suspend preparations for the signature of an Association Agreement with the EU.

"There is no doubt that there was pressure on the part of Russia and this pressure was effective... The EU respects the independence of each country. Ukraine is an independent state, and it has every right to say yes or no," he said at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Conference in Vilnius on Thursday.

"Sometimes I think when I see how great the Russian pressure was, especially with regard to enterprises in southern and eastern Ukraine, I see that Ukraine lacks independence. It is unfortunate that an independent state can be prompted to such decisions. It is non-European, and it is not an element of high politics, when such things happen," Cox said.

While assessing rallies held in different cities in Ukraine in support of European integration, he noted that they were a sign of the European choice of the people.

"What we see is held in many cities. These are mostly young people who see partnership with the EU, and they see the EU as a road to the future. And we have to give them this opportunity, leaving this hope and keeping the door open," Cox said.