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Russia, EU officials to discuss Ukraine-EU association agreement implementation

Russia’s concerns over association between Ukraine and the EU have not changed fundamentally

BRUSSELS, March 3. /TASS/. The implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine tops the agenda of Brussels talks on Tuesday between Russia Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom. The Ukrainian side will not attend the talks.

Ulyukayev said previously that the sides would discuss "the whole range of mutual relations, including issues related to the implementation of a number of articles of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which last year was frozen for 15 months." He said he expected "a frank conversation," as Russia’s concerns over association between Ukraine and the EU have not changed fundamentally.

The participants in the tripartite talks in Brussels on September 12, 2014 reached an agreement to postpone the entry into force of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine until early 2016. Russia opposed the initial version of the agreement, as liberalization of trade between Ukraine and the European Union could adversely affect Russia’s foreign trade due to the fact that Ukraine, planning to enter the EU free trade area (FTA), is also member of the CIS free trade zone.

Moscow says if Kiev violates the September agreements Russia will apply to Ukraine the most favoured regime instead a more liberal regime of movement of goods within the CIS free trade area, or use other protective measures.