EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton reiterated the EU's position that Ukraine needed to address the cases of selective use of justice and prevents their recurrence.

At a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, she expressed concern about recent developments related to former prime minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko and former interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko.

Ashton also said she discussed the news about Lutsenko's unexpected transfer from the hospital back to prison at the meeting with Kozhara.

The EU high representative also said that her meeting with the new Ukrainian foreign minister in the run-up to the summit in Brussels scheduled for February 25 "was a good opportunity to take stock of our mutual engagement for the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the EU."

At the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on Ukraine's chairmanship of the OSCE during 2013.

"I stressed that Ukraine is well placed to build bridges and that all existing OSCE commitments need to be upheld at home and promoted within the OSCE region," she said.

Ashton added that she fully supported Ukraine's determination as chairman to pay particular attention to protracted conflicts, including Transdniestria.