5 Mar 2010 19:16

Putin invites Ukraine to join Russian-Belarusian-Kazakh Customs Union

MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has invited Ukraine to join the Customs Union.

"Join the Customs Union," Putin said addressing Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in response to his proposal on making "a sharp turn" in Ukrainian-Russian relations.

"The issue of Ukrainian-Russian relations - not only in the economic but also in the humanitarian field - was one of the very sensitive issues" during the recent election campaign in Ukraine, Yanukovych said.

"Ukraine will considerably adjust both its domestic and foreign policy," he said.

The Customs Union is comprised of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. Kyrgyzstan has also expressed its desire to join the union.