Ukraine’s parliament ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the European Union yesterday.

The ratification vote rubber-stamped the link with the EU that was at the heart of the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych and a war that has killed more than 3,000 people.

It was met with a standing ovation by pro-European members of the Kiev parliament, who leapt to their feet to sing the national anthem. 

President Petro Poroshenko called the vote a “first but very decisive step” toward bringing Ukraine fully into the EU.

The parliament also passed legislation to grant limited autonomy to the rebel-held eastern areas.

In stark contrast to the fanfare that greeted the EU deal, parliament had stayed behind closed doors earlier in the day to approve two Bills granting greater autonomy to the east, as well as amnesty for many of those involved in the fighting.

MPs adopted a peace plan that offered three years of limited self-rule to the rebel-held territories.

MPs said 277 deputies had backed the measure in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada.

The legislation on autonomy fell short of the eastern rebels’ aim for complete independence but rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said the rebel leadership would study the measures.

They allow local legislatures in rebel-held regions to set up their own police forces and name judges and prosecutors.

Local polls on December 7 will establish new councils that will not be accountable to Kiev.

A separate law passed in the same closed-door hearing protects from criminal prosecution “participants of events in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions” — a measure that applies to both the rebels and Ukrainian government troops.

The EU association agreement had been long sought by those Ukrainians who conducted a coup in the streets of Kiev to push their country into the arms of the EU and out of Russia’s sphere of influence. 

Donetsk city council said that three people died and five others were wounded in shelling overnight.

The council said multiple residential buildings had been hit by shelling despite the supposed ceasefire.