Ukraine should cooperate with both European and Euro-Asian countries.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made the foregoing statement in the interview to "Vid Pershoyi Osoby" program (Era Radio).
V.Lytvyn informed that he had signed the Resolution "On Recommendations of the Parliamentary Hearings "On the State and Prospects of Development of Economic Relations between Ukraine, the EU and the Customs Union." The Resolution reads that European integration is the key vector of Ukraine´s foreign policy, although the country should actively work in the post-Soviet space, especially with Russia. It is necessary to study the goals of the Customs Union, potential benefits for its participants, and the ways for Ukraine to use this organization to implement its economic interests.
"We have to get on well with Europe and the Euro-Asian countries," the Head of the Parliament stated. He informed that Ukraine has a high trade turnover with the post-Soviet states, especially Russia. V.Lytvyn believes that it is wrong for Ukraine to withdraw from the post-Soviet republics from economic considerations. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supposes that Ukraine should work in the areas of economic interests, demonstrating pragmatic calculations.
V.Lytvyn stressed that accession of Ukraine to the Customs Union is not the point. "The matter is that Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the countries-members of the Customs Union, and the Customs Union itself, accordingly," he stated.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called for passing a resolution on a free trade zone and signing the EU association agreement. "There might be a great frustration, unless the agreement on political association stating the European prospects of Ukraine is signed, unless the agreement on a free trade zone is adopted, and unless the visa-free regime action plan is implemented," he stressed.
V.Lytvyn supposes that the EU should demonstrate a pragmatic approach, reach a compromise on the placement of Ukrainian goods in the European markets, and support parity. "Otherwise, we should look for other opportunities, including more active involvement in the post-Soviet space," he summed up.