No Further Delay In EU-Ukraine Trade Deal Despite Russian Concerns
Brussels (Alliance News) – A free trade deal between the EU and Ukraine will enter into force on January 1 despite Russian concerns, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said Monday after talks with ministers from Moscow and Kyiv.
“There will be no amendments,” she said after meeting with Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.
Brussels and Kyiv agreed to strengthen their political and economic ties last year despite opposition from Moscow. A first attempt to finalize that deal had failed in 2013, triggering protests in Kyiv that led to the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, followed by Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and a pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine.
Relations between Brussels and Moscow have since fallen to their lowest level since the Cold War. The conflict in eastern Ukraine has heightened tensions on other issues, such as Russian gas supplies and trade relations.
The implementation of the EU-Ukraine free trade agreement was delayed by a year to address fears raised by Moscow that the deal could adversely affect its economy.
According to diplomats, Russia had recently asked for another delay, but it appeared to back down from that demand Monday. A joint statement by Malmstrom, Ulyukayev and Klimkin specifically mentions the previously agreed implementation date for the trade deal.
“The reference of the agreement’s entering into force in January 2016 is not contested by the Russian delegation,” Malmstrom said.
She said Moscow has “some concerns” but expressed hope that they could be addressed. The joint statement specifically refers to the areas of customs cooperation, trade barriers and sanitary issues.
Malmstrom said the meeting was “a good way to clarify some misunderstandings” and spoke of “a good, calm atmosphere” with no threats being made.
Russia had previously raised the prospect of potentially suspending its preferential trade relations with Ukraine, said diplomats who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Malmstrom said she hopes Moscow will not move in that direction if the remaining issues are resolved.
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