Moscow - Russia will have to cancel its free it trade zone with Ukraine and trade according to regular rules with Ukraine if it finds hidden implementation of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
“Our colleagues in the negotiations have heard some of our arguments. It’s important. Naturally, we are ready to observe these agreements if they are made properly because a written statement alone is not enough in this case. It needs to somehow create obligations for participants in these relationships,” Medvedev said during a meeting with his deputies on Sept. 15.
At the same time, Medvedev said it is obvious that Russia will watch trade as closely as possible to see if the free trade zone with Ukraine remains, bearing in mind that the European partners are providing unilateral privileges to Kyiv.
“We should see to it that there is no hidden implementation, that is, hidden use of these rules without a separate act. If we see that, we will have to issue a document on the transition from free trade with Ukraine to a regular regime, that is, the way we trade with everyone else, which is now available for viewing on the government website,” Medvedev said.
