EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has said that possible economic difficulties to be faced by Ukraine during the implementation of its Association Agreement with the EU will be resolved with the assistance of the European Union and a concrete plan from the Ukrainian authorities.

She said this in Brussels on Thursday before a meeting of the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council.

When asked by reporters about her meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Ashton said that in a conversation with her, the president spoke about the economic problems to be faced by the country in the short term.

"It is my view that those challenges, which are real, can be addressed not just with support that comes from the European Union institutions, but by showing that he has a serious economic plan in signing the Association Agreement. It will also help bring in the kind of investment that he needs. But today the first deputy prime minister is coming [for talks]. So we'll see," Ashton said.

As reported, a Ukrainian government delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov is arriving in Brussels on Thursday to hold a dialogue on the implementation of the Association Agreement.