Due to the fact that Ukraine is already the WTO member, it has no plans to join the Customs Union. "Our position is the following: to remain a member of the WTO and at the same time to seek various forms of beneficial cooperation with the Customs Union's member-countries. In this regard, Ukraine is ready to become the bridge, which connects these two associations", the Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus, Roman Bezsmertnyi, said.
Now, from economic point of view, «Ukraine’s joining the Customs Union is a huge loss not only for Ukraine but also for all current CU members», the Ambassador said.
Roman Bezsmertny said that prospects of Ukraine’s entry into integration project of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan were being discussed in detail by Ukrainian analysts. «Today, it is impossible because of purely economic reasons. Ukraine is a member of the World Trade Organization. And if we decide to join the CU, we have to leave the WTO. And now try to choose what is better — the market of 160 countries or the one of three countries», the diplomat said.
However, Roman Bezsmertnyi stressed that very important and priority component of foreign policy for Ukraine was the support of free trade zone forming, which could include as all the CIS space, so and its concrete members. Therefore, the neighboring state supports the idea to establish free trade zone, which to cover Belarus and Ukraine, BelTA informs.
«Never say never. If economic motives will ever allow Ukraine to see its interest in the Customs Union, it will be pleased to join it», Roman Bezsmertnyi concluded.
