I think the word "impotent" is inappropriate because it rather suggests that they were actually somehow useful or effective in the first place. They are about as useful to the people of Europe as a Nick Clegg t-shirt is to an 18 year old student who's trying to get laid.
Ach, yjats harsh.
If the Ukraine hadn't been woo'ed by the EU none of this would be happening. Hell, even heard a report in the early days of the EU paying farm labouers to protest.
Putin wants his own version of it to start next year and without Ukraine it will not happen.
So, yeh, the EU signing is of relevance just now.