Upholding of Tymoshenko Ruling Set to Further Frustrate EU Cooperation with Ukraine

A controversial ruling against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for her part in a gas deal with Russia has been upheld in a Ukrainian court. The ruling, which has drawn ire from Europe and the United States, may further jeopardise cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine which has strongly criticised the sentencing.

Just two days ago, talks between Ukraine and the European Union on future energy and trade cooperation stalled over the criticisms of the treatment of the former prime minister, with the EU saying it wouldn't sign a deal until Ukraine resolved its issues with "politically motivated justice".

"The support of European public opinion to Ukraine's political association and economic integration to the EU is an important asset, closely related to this field," President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy said after talks on Wednesday. "The perceived deterioration of the quality of democracy and rule of law in Ukraine has a direct impact in our member states, in our public at large, and in the European Parliament."

In October of this year, Yulia Tymoshenko was jailed for allegedly abusing her power in a gas deal with Russia in 2009, a charge which she has repeatedly denied.

The defence team for Ms. Tymoshenko now says it will forgo further appeals in the Ukrainian court system and will bring an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.