Russia's opinion about Ukraine's wish to join the Customs Union and to sign the free trade agreement with the European Union at the same time remains unchanged: these two steps cannot be combined, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has told Interfax.
“The Ukrainian side will have to choose, (as) these two steps cannot be combined,” Shuvalov said ahead of the meeting in Minsk between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych scheduled for Thursday.
The Russian and Ukrainian leaders will attend the Minsk summits of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the CIS.
Ukraine is expected to sign the Association Agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in late Nov. 2013 if it meets the conditions set by the European Union.
Shuvalov held consultations with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boiko on Oct. 8 in anticipation of the Ukrainian step. Another meeting of the deputy prime ministers had been planned for Oct. 22, but was canceled.
