BRUSSELS, March 21 -- EU leaders and interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk signed the political provisions of an association agreement here on Friday.

"This gesture symbolizes the importance that both sides attach to this relationship, and our joint will to take it further," said President of the European Union Herman Van Rompuy.

Van Rompuy told Yatsenyuk that the EU expected to sign the agreement's remaining parts soon, not least the economic provisions together with the political ones forming a single instrument.

Yatsenyuk described the agreement as the first step for his country to be a part of the European family.

All 28 EU members' leaders signed the core chapters with Yatsenyuk before the second day meeting of an EU summit.