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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Donetsk Republic PM speaks in favour of economic cooperation with Russia

MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Alexander Zakharchenko does not exclude possible economic cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities, the press service of the DPR Supreme Council /parliament/ said on Sunday.

“We are always glad to be friends with all who doesn’t come here with weapons in the hands. If they make rational offers in the economy, in trade or in the area of other partner relations. We are ready to speak with all, even with the government, which is currently ruling Ukraine,” he said.

He said that the key task for the Supreme Council and himself as the prime minister was to create conditions for expanding relations with Russia “so that we could secure our economy from impacts from outside, including from Ukraine.”

“The economy will be completely, if possible, oriented towards the Russian market. We consider Russia our strategic partner,” he stressed.

Earlier, Zakharchenko said that the DPR authorities were looking at creating a multi-currency zone to use both the rouble (Russia’s currency unit) and the hryvnia (Ukraine’s currency unit). The DPR Council of Minister also said it had passed a decision to set up a national bank in the republic.

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Eastern Ukraine

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