It has taken seven years but the Parliaments of Ukraine and the European Union have ratified their landmark Association Agreement. <br /><br />For the first time ever, the parliamentary sessions in Kyiv and Strasbourg were broadcast simultaneously, with both leaders of the Ukraine and European parliaments describing this as a “historical” moment.<br /><br />This is the deal that led to bloody protests in Ukraine’s Maidan Square and the subsequent toppling of former president Viktor Yanukovych.<br /><br />The wide-ranging accord requires Ukraine to meet EU standards in the areas of corruption, human rights, security and arms control, and would remove trade barriers.<br /><br />But as Russia opposes the free trade provisions, the full measures will not be implemented until the end of next year.
