The EU’s two top officials have hit out at Moscow’s perceived interference in Ukraine’s plans to sign a trade deal with Brussels.

Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy said they “strongly disapprove of the Russian position and actions.”

An EU spokeswoman on foreign policy said:

“The doors remain open. We believe that the future of Ukraine is in strong relationship with the EU, the EU is ready to resume this, once Ukraine is ready. “

Kiev has been set to ink an agreement with the EU at a European summit in Vilnius, Lithuania this week.

Officials in Brussels say it would have revived Ukraine’s economic growth.

But Ukrainian ministers say they pulled out of the deal to revive the economy.

They argue the threat of Russian sanctions would have been too much to bear amidst the backdrop of a large budget deficit and swelling state debts.