KIEV dismissed on Wednesday night Dutch voters’ rejection of Ukraine’s relationship to the European Union.

Sixty-one per cent of voters in a Dutch referendum said No to an EU association agreement with the Ukrainian government — seen by Kiev as a major step toward full membership.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said before the vote that he would be forced to veto the Ukrainian agreement after a strong No vote, but turnout was only 32.2 per cent, only just above the 30 per cent validity threshold.