You're reading: Ukraine, EU not going to change agreement on free trade area – deputy minister

Ukraine and the EU do not intend to make any changes to the text of the Association Agreement, including the documents on the free trade area, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Natalia Halibarenko said while commenting on the results of Ukraine-EU-Russia consultations on this matter.

“The bottom line is the same as before: both Ukraine and the EU take a clear stand. We are not going to change the text of the Association Agreement, including as regards creating a deep and comprehensive free trade area,” she said.

“Our position is clear: on January 1, 2016 the part of the agreement dealing with the free trade area will take effect,” the deputy minister said.

Halibarenko said that Ukraine was ready to discuss specific issues related to the free trade area which have cause Russia’s concern.

“If there is a concern, we are ready to hold expert meetings and work out the ways to address them,” she said.