MOSCOW, September 20 (Itar-Tass) - A Russian parliamentarian has accused the European Union of pressing Ukraine to conclude an association agreement which would make it "an economic appendage".
“Beautiful words of support for sovereignty conceal the European Union’s intention to make countries dependent on the EU and turn them into an integral part of the economic and political influence zone,” said Alexei Pushkov, heading the international affairs committee of the State Duma lower house of Russia's parliament.
Armenia’s intention to target accession to the Customs Union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan caused a shock to the EU as its Eastern Partnership plan might be threatened, the legislator said, adding that the partnership had been spreading "a semi-colonial regime".
“An association agreement is an attempt to tie countries for little money to this programme of the European Union and make them an economic appendage,” Pushkov said. “Ukraine’s people will only lose from this. In general, the agreement will only produce negative effects.”
Pushkov warned that in the event of European integration “Ukraine’s cooperation with member countries of the Customs Union is ruled out.” “An association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union contradicts prospects for Ukraine’s participation in the Customs Union,” he said.