You're reading: Poroshenko: Ukraine calling for cancellation of trade restrictions with Russia

Ukraine seeks the intensification of trade and economic cooperation with Russia and the mutual cancellation of trade restrictions, Economic Development and Trade Minister of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said.

“Russia has always been and remains the key trade partner of Ukraine,” he said at a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov and Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin, according to the press service of the Trade and Economic Development Ministry.

The ministry’s statement reads that the meeting was held as part of the preparations for a meeting of the Economic Cooperation Committee under the Ukraine-Russia Interstate Commission due on June 27.

“At the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of economic cooperation between the states, as well as a wide range of issues related to deepening of bilateral cooperation and the formation of a trade partnership,” the press service said.

“Poroshenko said the mutual elimination of trade barriers by the states was necessary, as it would improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation.”