Vienna - The owner of Group DF, Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash, who has been waiting for the decision of Austrian authorities on his extradition to the United States, again has called the European Union, Ukraine and Russia with the Customs Union to create the united market instead of worsening relations and mutual sanctions.
“It’s clear that first of all peace is needed, and nothing will be without peace… Our goal is the united market if 700 million people: Europe, Ukraine and Russia with the Customs Union,” he said at the second roundtable entitled “Ukraine in Europe: Peace and Development” held in Vienna on Nov. 3.
Firtash said that taking into account the hryvnia devaluation by 60 percent, the accumulated debts and the pace of the fall of the Ukrainian economy, the further loss of markets in Russia and the Customs Union, the exports share of which is around one third, will be ruinous for Ukraine.
He reminded that the Customs Union from Jan. 1, 2015 introduces its own procedures which are to be passed to enter the market, which is an additional risk for Ukrainian exporters.
He said that business should influence on political decisions in their countries lobbying for their cooperation.
Firtash expressed hope that with the election of the new parliament and the formation of the majority in it reforms will start in Ukraine which will facilitate the state of business.
