Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed at a multilateral meeting in Minsk devoted to cooperation between Russia, the EU and Ukraine that Moscow stands for improving economic cooperation with Kiev. However, Putin doubts that enhancement of cooperation is possible after the signing of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
According to Putin, Russia also stands for enhancement of economic contacts between the EU and Eurasian integration projects. The Russian president noted that Russia is open for discussion of any options. He also paid attention to the fact that losses to the Russian economy from elimination of customs duties due to the association between Ukraine and the EU could reach $100 billion. Thus, the Customs Union could secure itself from the negative consequences of the European association of Ukraine.
