PARIS, Feb. 18 - The EU and Ukraine began free-trade talks on Monday that should lead to increased trade.

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson and President Viktor Yushchenko launched negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine less than two weeks after the finalization of Ukraine’s World Trade Organization accession process on Feb. 5.

"A landmark event takes place today in Kiev. We have officially announced the beginning of talks on a profound free trade zone," Yushchenko said at a meeting with Mandelson. The president stressed that the main goal of Ukraine is to reach a political decision on the creation of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU by this September.