Kozhara denies rumours of Ukraine's accession to Customs Union

Ukrainian foreign minister Leonid Kozhara did not confirm the information that President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement that provides for Ukraine's accession to the Customs Union, he stated at the First National Channel.

"I do not know anything about that. It is true that the President of Ukraine met with the President of Russia. They discussed very topical issues - how to avoid a significant reduction in trade turnover between two countries, as well as traditional issue - the price for Russian gas. And they also discussed the agreement on strategic industrial cooperation," the minister said.

He also emphasized that the accession to the Customs Union is an issue not only of the President but of all state bodies.

Speaking about the agreement on strategic industrial cooperation, Kozhara noted that in recent months, the trade turnover between Ukraine and Russia has dropped by 25 %, as a result strategic sectors of the Ukrainian industry suffered. So today, both countries actually adopt a road map, a plan of how to prevent a sharp drop in industrial cooperation.

Kozhara said that Ukraine is negotiating with the European Union now as well.