Ukraine's wish to strengthen its relations with Europe does not mean its alienation from Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara said at Chernivtsi National University.

"Ukraine's commitment to European standards in public life absolutely does not imply its geopolitical, economic or cultural disconnection from our friends, among them the Russian Federation," Kozhara said.

"I know this is the interpretation of the European policy of Ukraine, which sometimes disturbs our Russian friends. But this is absolutely not so," the Ukrainian minister said.

He noted that despite the two countries' different approaches to European policy, they have common interests as well.

"For example, both our Russian colleagues and we are holding an intensive dialogue on visa-free travel with the European Union. We have parallel trajectories, but nothing prevents us from closer coordination of efforts in this matter, which is important for millions of our citizens," Kozhara said.

Speaking of integration processes in Europe, the minister said: "A united Europe needs a combination of resources and industries of the East, and the financial and technological potential of the West."

"From the practical point of view, it should be the issue of interaction between the Customs Union, on the one hand, and the internal European market on the other hand. I'm confident that these two markets are somewhat compatible. Movement between them will become a common European task sooner or later. At present, this is an issue of economic policy for Ukraine," Kozhara said.

In spite of the common Europe principle declared for years, the mission has not been accomplished, he said.

"It is our task to lay down the foundation for the genuine unity of the whole of Europe. We should start with economic and trade unity. The format is a different question. It could be a tripartite agreement between the European Union, Russia and Ukraine, or a free trade area. Anyway, the European economic unity and the common market of the East and the West were and will be a worthy answer to contemporary challenges," the Ukrainian foreign minister said.

"Sooner or later Russia, Ukraine and the European Union are bound to become a part of a common market. Visa-free travel and a free trade area will unite them," Kozhara said.