Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko vowed on Wednesday to push through a trade deal with the European Union that is due to begin in 2016, despite Russia’s suspension of its own such pact with Kiev.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko vowed on Wednesday to push through a trade deal with the European Union that is due to begin in 2016, despite Russia's suspension of its own such pact with Kiev.

"We are ready to pay this price for our freedom and our European choice," Poroshenko said during talks in Brussels after the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The DCFTA (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement) cannot be postponed, that's for sure," he added, referring to the deal with the EU due to take effect on January 1.