Talking points

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is taking part in what could be fraught talks with European Union leaders. The EU has already told his country that its rejection of a free-trade deal in favour of closer ties with Russia would risk its economic future. Yanukovych flew into the Lithuanian capital Vilnius yesterday in time for a dinner in honour of the Eastern Partnership, the EU's four-year-old programme of outreach to former Soviet states. He had been expected to sign the deal at the summit, but following intense pressure from Moscow and growing concerns about Ukraine's dire economic situation, he said he was not ready to sign the EU deal yet.

Vice-minister of Justice Zhao Dacheng will be holding a press conference in Beijing today on improving judicial procedures. A resolution issued after the third plenum promises that the party would introduce measures to improve the transparency of procedures, improve the professional quality of judges, as well as reduce political influence in local courts.