President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine says his country is the victim of discrimination by western Europe and that it stands outside a magic circle, created by western politicians, that's impossible to break.

Speaking at a news conference in Hungary, Mr Kuchma listed other states of central and eastern Europe which had associate membership of the EU.

He said Ukraine had not been granted such membership and, because of that, was also excluded from the Central Europe Free Trade Agreement.

Mr Kuchma appealed to the Hungarian leadership to maintain an open border with Ukraine, after Hungary becomes a full member of the European Union.