19 Feb 2013 14:40

Kyiv may set up free trade zones with EU, Customs Union in 2013 - foreign minister

KYIV. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Ukraine hopes to set up free trade zones with the European Union and the Customs Union in 2013, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara told the ICTV channel on Monday night.

"It is important to Ukraine to develop relations with the East and the West. If we take a look at just one indicator - Ukraine's foreign trade, we shall see that (our trade with) Customs Union countries nears $60 billion and (trade) with EU states stands at approximately $40 billion," he said.

"Thus, both unions are very important to us and Ukraine has a chance to start free trade with the two interstate entities, the Customs Union and the European Union, this year," he stressed.