The CIS Council of Prime Ministers will hold a session in St. Petersburg today and discuss the realization of the CIS free trade agreement, socio-economic and humanitarian cooperation, RIA Novosti reports.
Ukraine plans to sign a free trade agreement with the EU in late November. Russia may respond with measures to protect its economic interests. Trade turnover between Russia and Ukraine has already dropped by 25%.
The Russian delegation will be headed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. He will be assisted by Igor Shuvalov, Vice Prime Minister, Sergey Prikhodko, Vice Prime Minister and head of the governmental office, Alexander Novak, Minister for Energy, and Andrey Belyaninov, head of the Federal Customs Service.
