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Russia’s economy minister to discuss Ukraine-EU deal implementation in Brussels on March 3

The entire range of relationships, including the issues related to the implementation of some provisions of the Ukraine-EU association deal suspended for 15 months last year will be discussed
Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev ITAR-TASS/Alexander Astafyev
Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev
© ITAR-TASS/Alexander Astafyev

MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev said on Friday he would discuss the Ukraine-EU deal implementation with the EU Trade Commissioner in Brussels on March 3.

"We have agreed with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom to meet in Brussels on March 3 to discuss the entire range of relationships, including the issues related to the implementation of some provisions of the Ukraine-EU association deal that were suspended for 15 months last year," Ulyukayev said.

"Let us look for solutions on this issue," the Russian minister said.

The three-party work of experts on the Ukraine-EU association deal will also be resumed, the economy minister said.

"We’ll generally talk about the resumption of our dialog within the mutually advantageous framework that was established a year or two ago," Ulyukayev said.

"This relates to the issues of settling mutual claims of Russia and the European Union within the WTO, generally improving the system of trade relations and the ways of transferring the dialog to the level of integration associations," the economy minister said.

Russia counts on the success of these talks, the minister said.

A total of five disputes have been opened between Russia and the EU within the WTO, including three cases initiated by Europe and two by Moscow.

Russia, Ukraine and the EU agreed on September 12 to delay the implementation of a free trade pact between Kiev and Europe at least until the end of 2015.

Russia has said on many occasions that the Ukraine-EU free trade deal implementation will harm the domestic market, unless amendments are made to the text of the agreement.