European Council (EC) President Herman Van Rompuy on Saturday renewed the offer for Ukraine to partner with the European Union, saying its future was with the bloc.

Addressing an event at the ongoing 50th Munich Security Conference here, Van Rompuy said: "Our offer is still there and we know time is on our side."

"Of course, today Ukraine is on all our minds."

The EU had offered Ukraine a closer association with the European Union, he said, adding "not for free, but upon conditions which were close to fulfilled."

Van Rompuy said the 28 EU presidents and prime ministers shared a common concern for what happened in Ukraine, unlike five years ago when only eastern Europeans took an interest.

He disclosed that European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and he exchanged views with Russian President Vladimir Putin and answered Putin's concerns about the impact on Russia of closer economic ties between Ukraine and Europe.

The meeting was held on Jan. 28 in Brussels and the Eastern Partnership, Ukraine, trade and human rights were among the issues discussed, he said.

Ongoing protests in Ukraine were sparked by the Ukrainian government's decision to put on hold an association agreement with the EU last November. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Jan. 28 amid violent unrest.