KIEV, October 17. /TASS/. A Ukrainian politician has called to resume trade relations with Russia and countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as the results of Ukraine’s cooperation with the European Union prove that it was a big strategic mistake to withdraw from the Russian market.
"Today, Ukraine is counting its losses. In the recent years, exports to Russia have shrunk five-fold. Ukraine has already lost $15 billion, being out of Russia’s markets," Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Choice - The People’s Right movement, said on Monday.
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"As was foreseen, high-technology Ukrainian products enjoy no demand in the European Union," he said. "The bulk of Ukraine’s exports are raw materials: sunflower oil, corn, soy beans, honey, iron ore, ferrous alloys, rolled metal. It points to a biggest mistake made by the team of euroreformers."
He reminded that Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has recently set up a parliamentary group on the resumption economic relations with Russia. A question has been raised on possible abandonment of reciprocal sanctions.
"A signature raising campaign has been launched in the parliament to appeal to the Ukrainian president with a corresponding initiative. Some time ago, the issue of possible resumption of trade was discussed at the international economic forum in Kiev," he said.
"But this is just the first step. An emergency plan of resumption of bilateral trade and production cooperation between Ukraine and CIS countries is needed to bring the country out of the crisis. The country badly needs a program of long-term cooperation and investment encouragement. These measures will help restore Ukraine’s industrial potential, to revive its economy and ensure wellbeing of our citizens," Medvedchuk stressed.