By Vestnik Kavkaza
Yesterday Vladimir Putin addressed leaders of European states, speaking about Russian gas exports and transit through Ukrainian territory.
He criticized Russia's European partners for their passive position on holding negotiations with Russia on the issue. Putin noted that the situation with payments for Russian gas had become worse in recent months. The total Ukrainian debt grew by $3.508 billion.
Victor Zvagelsky, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Innovation Development and Business, speaks about the prospects for the Ukrainian economy. According to him, “the Ukrainian economy was heavily politicized and relied on foreign factors. So everything will depend on the way Ukraine builds relations with the EU countries, the USA and Russia and the development of the political situation in the country.”
As for cooperation between Ukraine and Russia, Zvagelsky says that “many people in Russia easily believe that Ukraine is not our serious strategic partner and that we will do without Ukraine without any problems. It is partially true, as Ukraine doesn’t take first place in the volume of our turnover – it is 1/10 of our turnover with the EU. However, considering the current negative trend, we shouldn’t get rid of relations with Ukraine, speaking about the whole spectrum of exported and imported production… Ukrainian additional turnover volumes won’t hurt Russia.”
At the same time, according to Zvagelsky, “the loss of the Russian market is serious damage for Ukraine, as the EU couldn’t and wouldn’t replace it. They don’t do a thing for free. Any replacement of imports to Ukraine will be accompanied by strict requirements, primarily in the political sphere. Any economic cooperation should be mutually beneficial; but in the context of the geopolitical proximity, the geographical proximity, the historical proximity of our countries, the relations are very important.
At the moment we can’t see this. The state has announced that it is stopping any government support, as there is a lack of budget resources.”
“Considering the political situation, nobody would let Ukraine die. It is an important political base. Even if invested, the money is not repayable, it will be invested, as it is a base for weakening Russian economic power. Such a vector of Ukrainian development is also possible, i.e. support for the Ukrainian economy as a way of putting pressure on Russia to weaken its economy.”
