REUTERS
The position of Ukraine and the European Commission on the one hand and that of Russia on the other saw no changes as a result of tripartite consultations on the introduction of Ukraine-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area on January 1, 2016, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, an UNIAN correspondent in Brussels reported.
"Today Russia presented the old and the new proposals at the same time of their, in fact, well-known document," Klimkin said after the tripartite ministerial consultations held in Brussels on December 1.
"Thus, as a result of these proposals, we remained on the same positions. We will continue to coordinate our position with our friends and partners from the EU, and EU member states. In the near future the expert consultations will be held. Let's see if the Russian side is ready to take into consideration our arguments and the arguments of the European side," said Ukraine’s top diplomat.
According to the Europeiska Pravda, Klimkin elaborated on the requirements of the Russian Federation regarding introduction of trade restrictions by Ukraine against the EU.
"For example, the Russians offered us to join restrictions on trade already introduced by Russia, including those against the European Union. That is, the Russians propose that we, conditionally, launch free trade with the EU, but at the same time join the bans in respect of certain EU member states," said the minister.
Read alsoEuropean Commissioner for Trade: We decided that DCFTA would come into force, and Russia will have to accept thatAlso in the list of requirements is the following: “Introduction of European standards in Ukraine shall be delayed for a long period time."
As UNIAN reported earlier, the European Commission did not rule out that the latest consultations between Ukraine, Russia and the EC regarding Moscow’s concerns on the introduction of DCFTA from January 1, 2016, will see no result.
Read alsoUkraine-EU DCFTA to take effect Jan 1, 2016The EU and Ukraine did not intend to postpone the introduction of DCFTA, which will take effect from January 1, 2016, and make any changes to the text of the Association Agreement.