They exchanged views on Ukraine's progress in implementation of the criteria for the signing of the Association Agreement at the Vilnius Summit of the "Eastern Partnership" in late November 2013. Catherine Ashton informed the Foreign Minister of Ukraine about the results of the relevant discussion at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council and called on the Ukrainian side to speed up the efforts with a view to resolving the remaining issues on the way to the signing of the Agreement.

Leonid Kozhara thanked the EU High Representative for the consistent support of Ukraine's European aspirations, and stressed that legislative and executive powers are working together upon the agreed criteria, boosted by the unity of the leading political forces around the European choice.

The counterparts also discussed the pressing issues of international and regional cooperation. Leonid Kozhara informed Catherine Ashton about the state of implementation of the key priorities of Ukraine's Chairmanship in the OSCE. EU High Representative also noted Ukraine's decision to make a concrete contribution to the EU-led anti-piracy operation “ATALANTA” by dispatching the Ukrainian frigate "Hetman Sahaidachny" to patrol the coast of Somalia in early 2014.