Ukraine's decision to scrap plans to sign a deal deepening ties with the EU was motivated by economic concerns and does not represent any change in its strategy of European integration, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Friday. "The decision was hard, but the only possible one in the economic situation," Azarov told parliament to cries of "shame" from the opposition. "The decision was dictated exclusively by economic causes and in no way changes the direction of Ukraine's strategic development."