03:32Russia: Putin speaks about negotiations on EU-Ukraine association agreement
Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the European Union's accusations of ruining the negotiation process of the EU free trade agreement with Ukraine in Moscow, Tuesday. The EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, who presented the EU during the talks, said that "the game is over" and just left the room, according to Putin.
"I think that was neither a European nor a tolerant way of acting," Putin stated. However, "we will return to these issues again and again," the Russian President continued, "we do want to mend the relations with our partners regarding this issue, as well as with Ukraine and the European Union."
According to Putin, the EU required Russia to switch to the European phytosanitary, technical and customs regulation systems. "It requires time and hundreds of millions or even billions of euros of investments" and cannot be done immediately, Putin noted. "The transition period has been offered only for two, three or even one industrial sector," adding "we don't ask for the minimum ten-year-period, but only for 18 months or even less."
Monday's round of trilateral negotiations was seen as the last chance for the parties to arrive at an agreement and avoid Russia's suspension of Ukraine from a free trade zone. However, the agreement has not been reached. Russian Minister of Economic Development Alexei Ulyukaev stated that Russian delegation has not received a positive answer to several 'concerns' and 'that is why our talks today have not resulted in an agreement.'
Vladimir Putin signed a decree on December 16 which suspends the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine from January 1, 2016, the same day Ukraine's Association Agreement with the European Union on the formation of a free trade zone comes into effect.
03:32Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the European Union's accusations of ruining the negotiation process of the EU free trade agreement with Ukraine in Moscow, Tuesday. The EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, who presented the EU during the talks, said that "the game is over" and just left the room, according to Putin.
"I think that was neither a European nor a tolerant way of acting," Putin stated. However, "we will return to these issues again and again," the Russian President continued, "we do want to mend the relations with our partners regarding this issue, as well as with Ukraine and the European Union."
According to Putin, the EU required Russia to switch to the European phytosanitary, technical and customs regulation systems. "It requires time and hundreds of millions or even billions of euros of investments" and cannot be done immediately, Putin noted. "The transition period has been offered only for two, three or even one industrial sector," adding "we don't ask for the minimum ten-year-period, but only for 18 months or even less."
Monday's round of trilateral negotiations was seen as the last chance for the parties to arrive at an agreement and avoid Russia's suspension of Ukraine from a free trade zone. However, the agreement has not been reached. Russian Minister of Economic Development Alexei Ulyukaev stated that Russian delegation has not received a positive answer to several 'concerns' and 'that is why our talks today have not resulted in an agreement.'
Vladimir Putin signed a decree on December 16 which suspends the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine from January 1, 2016, the same day Ukraine's Association Agreement with the European Union on the formation of a free trade zone comes into effect.