MINSK, January 29. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainians should choose their country’s future path on their own, state secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Grigory Rapota said on Wednesday.

The choice that Ukraine would make “should be the choice of its people,” he said in reply to a question of Itar-Tass.

Ukraine was a large European country on the CIS territory that bordered Belarus and Russia, i.e. the Union State, Rapota said, expressing interest in preserving close relations with Ukraine.

“We have always been interested not only in enhancing good neighborly relations, but in developing close cooperation with Ukraine in all areas, including trade and economy,” he said. “The doors for cooperation with Ukraine in that form that is acceptable for that country are always open.”