Support The Moscow Times!

Ukraine Not Ruling Out Joining Customs Union

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Friday that Kiev is still considering joining the customs union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, Interfax reported.

"We are tracking how it's working very closely, and we have practically all the information about what has a positive effect and what has a negative one. And we are not ruling out the possibility of joining the customs union," Azarov said at a press conference on Friday.

Russia has been seeking to expand into Ukraine the borders of the common economic space that has seen free trade opened between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia beginning this year.

Azarov also said a solution will be found this year regarding gas prices, over which Russia and Ukraine have been deadlocked.

"In 2011 we made do, but in 2012 we have set ourselves the goal of solving this problem," he said, Interfax reported.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more