(KIEV) - French president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country holds the European Union's presidency, on Friday backed a new partnership agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

"France will urge its partners in European Union and European Commission to push for a new agreement between the EU and Ukraine to achieve the most ambitious result possible," Sarkozy said in a written message to delegates of the Yalta European Strategy summit in southern Ukraine.

The summit is also being attended by former British prime minister Tony Blair. Sarkozy had been due to attend but cancelled due to other commitments.

Sarkozy also said he hoped that the European Union and Kiev "will be in a position to conclude an historic political agreement at the Evian summit on September 9," which could be signed in early 2009.

The current partnership agreement in place since 1994 is considered out of date.

Membership of the European Union as well as NATO is one of the priorities of pro-western Ukranian president Viktor Yushchenko.

The EU has included Ukraine in its policy of good neighbourly relations, but has refused to specify whether it could eventually join the 27-member bloc.

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