Muscat, Barroso discuss Ukraine visit as Kiev protests are violently quashed

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening held a teleconference with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso to discuss Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych's forthcoming visit to Malta on the 9 and 10 December.

"The EU President reiterated the Commission's view that Malta should host the Ukrainian President, which is being seen as a strategic visit and of significant importance," the OPM said in a statement. 

Muscat said he will be conveying the common EU position which specifies that Europe's door remains open to Ukraine, but that it should finally be the Ukrainian's people's choice to forge ahead with EU membership.

"There will also be an unequivocal message against any type of violence," the OPM said after a wave of protests in Kiev at the U-turn effected by Yanukovych on EU accession, were quashed violently by riot squads.

President Yanukovich's visit will be the first in a EU member state since Ukraine froze the signing of a co-operation agreement with the European Union.

"Prime Minister Joseph Muscat believes that the Ukrainian people are sending clear signals to the Ukrainian President that the way forward for Ukraine is for closer cooperation and eventual membership in the EU," Muscat said.

Thousands of Ukrainians remain on the streets in Kiev demanding the resignation of the country's government as well as Yanukovych.

Yesterday Yanukovych left Kyiv for a three-day trip to China, where he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and secure investment for Ukraine, according to a statement posted to his administration's website. 

"Even though the internal situation is not good for the visits, the economy of the country will lose out if I reject it," he said. 

The Kyiv Post reports that foreign investors are leaving Ukraine: Greek Astra Bank and Swedish Swedbank sold their subsidiaries in Ukraine earlier in the year "and more are expected to exit the country soon".

The Ukraine remains one of the most corrupt nations. It ranks 144th out of 177 countries in the latest Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.

China is one of Ukraine's biggest trade partners. The trade between countries has exceeded $10 billion in 2012. In 2012 China loaned Ukraine $3 billion for agriculture sector development and $3.7 billion for energy sector projects. Another loan worth $3 billion aimed for restoration of irrigation systems is currently being eyed by Ukraine. Experts, however, question the possibility of closing the deal these days.