Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said that the signing of an agreement between Ukraine and the European Union must not be an obstacle to further Ukrainian-Russian relations.

"Ukraine is not just moving nearer to the European Union. It will sign an association agreement with the EU which is to provide additional opportunities for Russian-Ukrainian relations, not to raise obstacles by any means," he said at a meeting with business community in Kyiv on Monday.

The Ukrainian government is ready for "a new quality of relations between Ukraine and Russia", where Ukraine will be part of a large European space.

"Our Russian partners must be aware of this," Yatseniuk said.