The signing by Kyiv of an association agreement with the European Union, as well as European integration, will ensure the competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy, Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara has said.

"Of course, the goal that Ukraine sees is the multifaceted modernization of our state, the social sphere, and the economic sector in line with European standards and norms," he said after speaking before the faculty and students of the Don State Technical University along with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Monday.

"Figuratively speaking, we want to build a Europe within our own country."