01:34Belarus: Russia "respects sovereign choice of every people and state" - Putin - POOL
Russian president Vladimir Putin said that Russia has "always respected the sovereign choice of every people and state in organizing its political life, joining economic and military blocs" while speaking at the Minsk summit on Tuesday. The Eurasian Customs Union meeting includes the leaders of the Customs Union member states, Ukraine and representatives from the EU.
Putin then said that the Ukrainian economy's transition to EU standards will cost Russian economy alone 100 billion rubles ($2.7 billion).
The Russian President also said Russia will have to cancel preferences and introduce the standard trade regime for products, imported from Ukraine, as a measure to protect its domestic market if Kiev signs association agreement with the EU. He noted that Russia is not willing to discriminate anyone but these measures will go in full compliance with the CIS Free Trade Agreement and WTO norms.
01:34Russian president Vladimir Putin said that Russia has "always respected the sovereign choice of every people and state in organizing its political life, joining economic and military blocs" while speaking at the Minsk summit on Tuesday. The Eurasian Customs Union meeting includes the leaders of the Customs Union member states, Ukraine and representatives from the EU.
Putin then said that the Ukrainian economy's transition to EU standards will cost Russian economy alone 100 billion rubles ($2.7 billion).
The Russian President also said Russia will have to cancel preferences and introduce the standard trade regime for products, imported from Ukraine, as a measure to protect its domestic market if Kiev signs association agreement with the EU. He noted that Russia is not willing to discriminate anyone but these measures will go in full compliance with the CIS Free Trade Agreement and WTO norms.