You're reading: Businesses in eastern Ukraine speak out in favor of suspension of trade deal with Europe

Meetings to support the decision of the Ukrainian president and government to suspend the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) were held at the largest industrial enterprises of Ukraine in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kremenchuk and Luhansk region, the press service of the Industrial Policy Ministry reported on Dec. 2.

The press service said that the decision to suspend the signing of
the Association Agreement with the EU was supported by employees of
Kyiv’s Antonov State Enterprise and Civil Aviation Plant 410,
Zaporizhia’s public joint-stock company Motor Sich and public
joint-stock company ZAZ, Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company
(KSAMC) and Kharkiv’s Electrotyazhmash, Dnipropetrovsk’s Scientific and
Production complex Electric Locomotives Building, public joint-stock
company Kriukov Car Building Works (KCBW, Kremenchuk, Poltava region),
and Stakhanov Wagon Plant and State enterprise Lutugino Research &
Production Roller Plant (Luhansk region).

The press service said that the largest industrial enterprises in
Kyiv and eastern Ukraine support the EU integration policy, taking into
account the national and economic interests of Ukraine, including on the
markets of the Customs Union. The enterprises that are mainly oriented
to the CIS markets are not ready to sharply switch to operation under
the European standards and they need time and additional investment.