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No compromises for Moscow, Kiev on WTO claims — minister

Earlier Moscow sent a request for consultations to the WTO dispute resolution authority in connection with sanctions constantly introduced by Ukraine

MARRAKESH, October 10. /TASS/. Russia and Ukraine see no compromises on claims to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Development Minister Maksim Oreshkin said Tuesday.

"There are contacts (between the countries) within WTO procedures, but no compromises are in place so far. We proceed within the existing procedures, concerning both Ukraine’s claims against Russia and Russia’s claims against Ukraine," he said.

Earlier Moscow sent a request for consultations to the WTO dispute resolution authority in connection with sanctions constantly introduced by Ukraine. According to Oreshkin, some of those measures not only fail to protect the Ukrainian economy, but quite the opposite, create new challenges for it. Also, there are serious grounds to believe that Ukraine is introducing sanctions against Russia contrary to its undertakings in connection with the WTO accession, the minister said.

The request for WTO consultations is the first procedure within the filing of a claim to the trade bloc. The WTO procedures stipulate consultations with the Ukrainian government to be held within two months to find a mutually acceptable solution to the current situation. If the consultations do not bring the expected result, Moscow has the right to launch the second stage of the dispute, which implies reference of the case to the arbitration panel.