European Union High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton has said that the criteria for the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement are attainable, but time is limited.

She said this during a meeting with Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Leonid Kozhara in Brussels on Wednesday.

The EU Council stated the relevant criteria, which Kyiv must meet in order to sign the Association Agreement, in its conclusions adopted in December 2012.

The high representative said: "Signature of the agreement will, however, only be possible if progress is sufficient. I therefore call on Ukraine to use this opportunity for a breakthrough in our relations and take determined action to achieve tangible progress on the benchmarks set in the Conclusions. The benchmarks are clearly achievable, but time is short," she said.

As reported, Ukraine's foreign minister went on Wednesday on a two-day visit to Brussels.