You're reading: Putin: Yanukovych statement Ukraine will not join Customs Union conveys political emotions

Sochi, Sept. 16 (Interfax) - Russia will not force Ukraine to join the Customs Union, but the advantages emerging from this are far more impressive than Ukraine's gains from its integration with the European Union, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.

"We have just spoken about problems in the Eurozone. It is difficult for me to imagine Ukraine joining the Eurozone in this setting. It’s an absolutely unrealistic thing," Putin told an investment forum in Sochi in remarks about the Ukrainian president’s refusal to accept the invitation to join the Customs Union.

"This statement conveys political emotions rather than anything else," he said.

Putin said he has not seen Yanukovych’s statement on Ukraine’s refusal to join the Customs Union, but noted that "final decisions are always made by the people in this or that country in an open discussion and in law-stipulated procedures of making crucial decisions."

"It is always the nation’s sovereign choice where to move and which organizations to join," Putin said.

In the current economic conditions in the European Union, Euro-integration is possible for Ukraine only as a strategy, the prime minister said. "But even here questions arise about economic common sense and about what brings better advantages.

This is to be decided by our Ukrainian colleagues. Should they push toward the European zone or make use of the advantages connected with enormous cooperation between the Ukrainian and Russian economic branches," he said.

"An enormous set of factors indicate that Ukraine should opt for the Customs Union, which would undoubtedly ensure a better competitiveness of the Ukrainian and Russia economies, the economies of all members," he said.

"I think the ‘cons’ are of a political-emotional nature. If we glance at reality, we will see that the Customs Union offers more advantages," he said.

"And then, who said the Customs Union must not become integrated with the pan-European economic space?" Putin said.

"Mr. Thomas has just spoken at the forum about the formation of a common Euro-Russian economic space. The French president, the head of a leading European economy, spoke about the same in clear terms," Putin said, speaking about France’s position.

"In any case, the Ukrainian track in our policy will not be affected by such statements," Putin said.

"I hope we will discuss this issue with Yanukovych during his upcoming visit to Russia [on September 24] not only as neighbors, but also as friends," he said.
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