Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said that he rules out suggestions of there being a "Russian factor" in the talks between Ukraine and the EU on the creation of a free trade area.
"The negotiation process is taking place between Ukraine and the European Union, and it depends only on Ukraine and the EU as to what the conditions for a future free trade area are – this is an absolutely unambiguous answer," he told reporters on Tuesday, while commenting on reports in the Ukrainian media regarding Moscow’s possible intervention in the talks between Kyiv and Brussels on the creation of a free trade area.
In particular, these suggestions are linked to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Ukraine, Klimkin said.
Klimkin said that the sides had made "rather serious progress in the negotiating process and are at the final stage."
However, the diplomat said he saw no obstacles in the creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU to "broad cooperation both with Russia and with the countries that are members of the Customs Union."
"There is every reason to talk about the end of the talks this year," he said.
"The position of Ukraine’s political leadership is well known. We are committed to ensuring successful progress in the negotiations on the association agreement, and a provision on the creation of a free trade area is an integral part of [the agreement]," Klimkin said.
