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Russia-EU-Ukraine association agreement talks not cancelled — Russian official

"We are preparing for talks, they have not been canceled so far," First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexey Likhachev says

MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. Negotiations of Russia, the European Union and Ukraine scheduled on December 21 in Brussels have not been canceled so far, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexey Likhachev told TASS on Wednesday, commenting on the presidential decree suspending the free trade zone agreement with Ukraine from January 1, 2016.

"We are preparing for talks; they have not been canceled so far," the official said.

No directives to halt negotiations were received, Likhachev added.

Russian Minister of Economic Development Alexey Ulyukayev also said that trilateral negotiations among Russia, Ukraine and the European Union will continue.

"I think the door is not finally shut and we will be able to somehow settle the situation subject to presence of good will of participants. We will try to return the issue to the positive track," the minister said.

The meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom scheduled for tomorrow has not been canceled, the he added.

TASS reported earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on suspension of a treaty for creating a free trade zone with Ukraine as of January 1, 2016 in view of exceptional circumstances affecting Russia’s interests and economic security and requiring the adoption of immediate measures.