At the current stage of the development of relations with the European Union, the conclusion of the Association Agreement, which provides for the creation of a deep free trade area, is a priority for Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych said in an interview with the analytical magazine "Ukraine and the World in 2013. Global Agenda," a joint project of New York Times News Service & Syndicate and Segodnya Multimedia.
"I believe that at present there is sufficient political will on both sides to complete the process as planned," the head of state said.
According to the president, the transition of relations with the EU to a new quality format of political association and economic integration "is an important step towards further full-scale integration of Ukraine into the European Union."
The president expressed confidence that the EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for February 25, 2013, "will help bring together the positions in addressing the pressing issues of our bilateral cooperation."
"The European integration remains unchanged priority of foreign policy and the strategic direction of the country's development," Yanukovych said.
Asked about the cooperation between Ukraine and the Customs Union, the president noted that Ukraine's trade with the countries of the Customs Union exceeds $60 billion and tends to grow further, so Ukraine is looking for new tools of effectively and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Yanukovych expressed confidence that not only Ukraine, but all member states of the Customs Union, are interested in the development of effective tools of interaction. "We are ready to consider the possibility of adapting at the national level of the rules of the Customs Union related to the free circulation of goods and services, which are not inconsistent with our international obligations. I am sure that the required format of cooperation with the Customs Union will be found," the president said.
Yanukovych stressed that such steps will allow Ukraine to deepen partnership with the countries of the Customs Union, in particular in the fields of nuclear energy, aviation, shipbuilding, transport and agricultural engineering.
