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Ukraine seeks close ties with Customs Union after signing deal with EU

On Tuesday, the two countries’ deputy prime ministers Yuri Boiko and Igor Shuvalov had consultations to objectively assess consequences of an association deal with the EU

KIEV, October 9 (Itar-Tass) - Ukraine seeks to sign a roadmap of cooperation with Russia and Kazakhstan similar to that it has signed with Belarus earlier this week.

“During our visit to Minsk we have signed a roadmap to develop more fruitful relations between our countries,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said on Wednesday. “We seek a similar scenario with other members of the Customs Union - Russia and Belarus.”

“President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to launch dialogue to clarify what effects a free trade zone with the EU will have on Russian-Ukrainian trade and cooperation creates a constructive basis for talks,” Azarov said.

On Tuesday, the two countries’ deputy prime ministers Yuri Boiko and Igor Shuvalov had consultations to objectively assess consequences of an association deal with the EU for trade relations with Russia and the Customs Union.

“Boiko said they had had substantive and constructive dialogue. We do not want to simply study the problem, we want to find a solution to eliminate risks for our trade turnover and cooperation,” Azarov added.

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