The EU Monday sharply criticised Russian pressure on Ukraine to drop a landmark cooperation accord with the bloc, due to have been signed this week, and said the deal was still "on the table." "It is up to Ukraine to freely decide what kind of engagement (it seeks) with the EU," a joint statement by EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said, adding: "We strongly disapprove of the Russian position and actions in this respect."