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Russia seeks common ground with EU over Ukraine

28 June 2014 18:05 (UTC +04:00)

On Friday, Moscow expressed hope that officials from Russia, Ukraine and the EU will find “mutual understanding” at the upcoming rounds of technical and expert consultations and ministerial-level meetings scheduled for both this week and next month.

“... there is a need for a substantive, technical and expert dialogue on how to avoid deteriorating the economic climate in Russian-Ukrainian relations amid the signing of this deal and what steps the sides should take,” Russian deputy foreign minister Alexei Meshkov said.

The official warned, however, that the move could disrupt cooperation between Ukrainian and Russian companies.

Meshkov recommended that some approaches be revised.

The statement comes a day after a European Union summit in Brussels, where Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a trade agreement and a political association deal with the EU.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has warned that it would take action in case the deal inflicts damage on the Russian economy.

Earlier in November, Ukraine plunged into chaos after then president, Viktor Yanukovych, refused to sign the Association Agreement with the 28-member bloc. The refusal triggered months of unrest and clashes, which finally led to the ouster of Yanukovych on February 23.

Following this, pro-Russia protests broke out in Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. The protests gained momentum after independence referendums in eastern parts of Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops have been carrying out military operations since mid-April to crush pro-Russia protests in the east of the country.