Ukraine won't join customs union with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia

Ukraine's economy minister Vasily Tsushko reckons Ukraine's membership in the Customs Union is of no advantage to either Ukraine or union member states. Tsushko is quoted by the Ukrainian official news agency UNIAN as saying the Customs Union would face more problems than Ukraine if the latter decided to join the grouping. Ukraine, being a member of World Trade Organization (WTO), enjoys lower import duties than the members of the Customs Union.

In the view of the Ukrainian minister, it would be sufficient and realistic to establish conditions for a free trade with Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan.