Ukraine on Brink of Economic Deal With Russia – Premier

KIEV, December 14 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine appeared to be on the brink of signing economic agreements next week that may well spell the end of a deal that would bring Kiev closer to Europe, following announcements by the country’s premier that it was ready for a deal with Moscow.

Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said his government had resolved its outstanding issues with Moscow and would sign a range of economic deals with Russia on Monday in order to salvage economic relations with its neighbor.

That follows a dramatic volte face by Ukraine last month, when it ditched a proposed economic accession agreement with the European Union.

“We understood that signing this agreement [with the EU] would mean bankrupting us,” he told a pro-government, anti-EU demonstration in Kiev Saturday.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20131214/185553850/Kiev-Prepares-Roadmap-for-Joining-Russian-Led-Customs-Union--Report.html

For understand bankruptcy reference see here :

It remains unclear how much the EU, which has said it will not join a bidding war for Ukraine, is willing to offer. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov estimates the country would need 160 billion euros ($220 billion) to adapt to the free-trade zone proposed by the European Union.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_EU_FIGHTING_FOR_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-12-12-04-51-25 see last but one para in article

$220 billion is a very large hole to fill albeit that is over a period of years. The amount referred to arises only in the event of a Ukraine / EU deal primarily due to lost exports elsewhere all other factors remaining equal.

The USA's nose poking in the subject is most likely associated with a desire to have the Ukraine in NATO.
McCain Flies to Ukraine as Protests Rage http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/13/exclusive-mccain-flies-to-ukraine-as-protests-rage.html