FM: Ukraine not strives to join CU

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the European integration remains the first priority for Kyiv, whereas the search for a format of cooperation with the Customs Union continues.

"Please, do not create unnecessary intrigue around the statements of Ukrainian Ambassador to Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko, who is an experienced diplomat, not accustomed to giving unambiguous simple answers to complex issues," Director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Policy Department Oleh Voloshyn said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine Wednesday commenting on the Ukrainian diplomat's statement about the possible accession of Ukraine to the Customs Union.

Voloshyn said that the Ukrainian legislation gives priority to the European integration, which reflects the will of the majority of Ukrainians.

"At present, the issue of accession to the Customs Union is not on the agenda of the Ukrainian foreign policy. At the moment, we do not consider it appropriate to talk about what will happen in the long term," the Foreign Ministry's spokesman said.