Ukraine expects to discuss trade with Russia, EU in December
BRUSSELS. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The European Union has forwarded proposals to Ukraine and Russia on holding trilateral consultations on trade, following up on the agreements reached on September 12 by Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, and EU Commissioner for Trade Karel de Gucht, a high-ranking Ukrainian diplomat said.
"The EU has forwarded letters - these actually were Commissioner Stefan Fule's last steps in the office when he and Commissioner Gunther Oettinger forwarded letters to us and the Russians that they are ready to resume trilateral contacts in December," Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Olena Dzerkal told journalists in Brussels.
The date for a trilateral meeting has not yet been set, as Kyiv has not yet received an answer from Moscow, Zerkal said. "We don't quickly receive answers from the Russians," she said.
She added that, while waiting for new meetings, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is analyzing measures Russia is applying to Ukrainian goods.
Zerkal noted that the negotiations with Russia are proceeding with difficulties. "They can be persuaded to change their mind only using levers, like reputational ones, involving the EU. Of course, we can't make them change their mind one on one. Therefore, we are cooperating with the OSCE and the EU," she said.
Ukraine, Russia, and the EU had reached an agreement on September 12, under which the EU and Ukraine are to postpone the application of the part of the association agreement concerning the establishment of a free trade area until December 31, 2015, while Russia committed not to put obstacles to free trade with Ukraine within the CIS framework.