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Putin: Russia will continue attempts to settle relations in framework of EU-Russia-Ukraine

"We want to mend relations with our partners on this issue [on trade regime], with Ukraine and with the European Union," the Russian president says

Russian President Vladimir Putin Sergei Bobylev/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

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Russian's possible short-term losses due to Ukraine-EU free trade zone put at $3.5 bln

MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. Russia will continue attempts to settle relations in the framework of EU-Russia-Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday commenting on the latest round of talks that finished yesterday in Brussels.

"I think we will return to these issues many times. We want to mend relations with our partners on this issue [on trade regime], with Ukraine and with the European Union," Putin said.

He noted that when Russian negotiators concretely and principally put controversial issues up for discussion, the leaders of the European Union’s delegation said that "the games is over" and left. "The game is over, and they left. They have issued a press release today that the Russian delegation disrupted the talks," the Russian president stressed adding that "this is not at all European, not at all tolerant."

Provisions of Ukraine’s association agreement with the European Union on the formation of a free trade zone come into effect on January 1, 2016. On October 30, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Ukraine could not take part in two free trade zones concurrently — the one with the European Union and the one within the Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS).

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The Russian side has prepared a package of documents if no compromise at talks is found. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in mid-December 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.

The Russian government also adopted a resolution this August on introducing customs duties on Ukrainian goods from January 1, 2016.

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Ukraine crisis Foreign policy Ukraine Vladimir Putin EU

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