Putin: Russia ready to interact with Ukraine in Customs Union affairs on expert level

13:54, 12.12.2013 1 min read

Russia is ready to interact with Ukraine in the issues related to the Customs Union on the level of experts, President Vladimir Putin said.

"We do not push anything on anyone but if our friends have a wish to work together, then we are prepared to continue this work at the level of experts," Putin said in his address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday.

"Our integration project is based on equality and genuine economic interests. We will be consistent in the promotion of the Eurasian process without opposing it to other integration projects, among them, naturally, such a mature integration project as the European one," Putin said.

Ukraine declared its wish to be an observer in the Customs Union and to partake in its debates in May 2013, before the Kyiv events; and it was interested in joining certain agreements with the Customs Union, he said.

The work with the European Union on the new fundamental treaty will be continued, Putin added.