Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov has expressed hope that the Customs Union will cooperate with Ukraine in the 3+1 format.
"We’ve proposed a normal 3+1 format of cooperation. We were said this format does not suit them. I hope that sooner or later the format will be accepted, as it cannot be in another way," he said at a meeting with members of the club of the CIS, Baltic and Georgian editors-in-chief in Kyiv on Saturday.
"Three countries have signed contracts. We have not studied these 120 contracts. We have to hold new elections and say that this does not suit us at all. Let’s get this clear, it will be good for us both. If they decline, that will be the end of the conversation. If we begin the process of mutual negotiations, we will start moving in a positive direction step by step," Azarov said.
Azarov said Ukraine’s wish to resume partnership with Russia and the CIS countries can in no way negatively impact Ukraine’s European integration. He recalled that Ukraine is for the creation of a free trade zone with both the CIS countries and the EU and also with some other countries.
Speaking about the Customs Union, Azarov also said that "no one is making anyone enter anything" at the level of Ukrainian-Russian bilateral relations.
Azarov said issues relating to Ukraine’s integration policy are determined primarily by the prospects of its economic development.
