MEP Kowal believes Yanukovych can sway Region Party's MPs to solve Tymoshenko's issue

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych can sway members of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction to settle the issue of imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko as soon as possible, MEP Pawel Kowal said.

"President Yanukovych is no doubt the real leader of the Party of Regions," he said in an interview with Channel 5 on Wednesday night.

The MEP believes the president can pull the strings on members of the Regions Party faction in the Verkhovna Rada.

"I am sure that members of the Party of Regions will listen to him. Secondly, he, as president, can apply the pardon," Kowal said.

When asked whether the Association Agreement with the EU may be signed without solving Tymoshenko's issue, he said: "I do not know yet, most likely no, but I cannot say for sure."