Ukraine's president is seeking a strong signal that the country belongs within Europe, diplomats say, to deter Moscow from intervening as it did in Georgia.

But the accord is more likely to represent a broad pact merely hinting towards possible future EU membership.

Russian officials have been angered by moves by Ukraine and Georgia to strengthen ties with Europe.

The 27 EU member states are expected to present the prospect of gradually closer links with Ukraine during the Paris summit.

Some EU member states, including The Netherlands, Germany and Italy, have in the past been reluctant to allow any explicit statement confirming Ukraine's future membership of the bloc.

But Ukraine is seen as a key energy transit route and as vital to the union's long-term security and energy strategy.

Political split

Ukraine is in political turmoil, following the collapse of its coalition government last week.

Last Wednesday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko threatened to dissolve parliament and call elections after his supporters walked out in protest following new laws to trim presidential powers.

The laws were introduced by the opposition and backed by his former ally Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc, now his rival in the upcoming presidential elections.

In a rare change to the schedule, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was forced to move the summit to Paris due to over-running talks with Moscow on the Georgia crisis on Monday.

BBC