Russia Hopes to Maintain Economic Ties With Ukraine

Moscow will not sever economic ties with Kiev, the Russian economic development minister said.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Russia has no intentions to cut completely economic ties with Ukraine, but will not continue preferential treatment in trade with Kiev, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukaev said Monday.

"Ukraine is our natural trade partner; we are neighbors, we have a large number o enterprises and businesses, which are closely cooperating with each other. That is why we are not going to cut our economic ties," Ulyukaev said following trilateral talks on Ukraine-EU free trade area in Brussels.

"However, the trade with Ukraine will not continue in the preferential regime," Ulyukaev stressed.