Gas difficulties between Moscow, Kyiv not related to Ukrainian plans to integrate with EU - Medvedev
MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) - The problems that have cropped up over gas between Russia and Ukraine are not associated with the latter's decision to establish an association with the European Union, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said during an interview with Reuters.
The prime minister pointed out that these questions were being asked in context or in connection. There is no connection, he said, because payment is needed independently of where a country is located, whether it is part of the Customs Union or European Union, whether it is in the NATO block or not.
"It's the law - you have to pay for delivered goods. It's normal practice around the world. Let them pay," Reuters quotes Medvedev as saying through a translator.
Ukraine has to pay, it is correct policy, he said.
This matter is in no way associated with what Ukraine chooses to do with the EU, Medvedev said. Russia has said more than once that if Ukraine chooses that path, let them follow it, he said. "This is the sovereign choice of Ukraine, but let's hope they don't kick themselves when they see that they will not receive those dividends, those benefits which they counted on, and lose the advantages that exist because of what we have now ... a special relationship with them, an exclusive relationship," he said.
