NNA - Russia's foreign ministry on Friday accused Brussels of "manipulating" Ukraine after the EU Commission recommended the pro-Western country be granted candidate status for joining the 27-nation bloc.

"We see how for many years the Western community has been manipulating the idea of some kind of involvement of Ukraine in their integration structures," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Ukraine, however, is getting "worse and worse," she added.

Zakharova said that Ukraine "is not getting a bright future, for some reason, despite the promises becoming more and more sweet and alluring." --AFP

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