Russia cannot keep zero import duty if Ukraine inks EU deal-Putin

STAVROPOL, June 19 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow will be unable to conserve a zero import duty for Ukraine once Kiev signs a free-trade agreement with the E.U., President Vladimir Putin said late on Wednesday at a meeting on agriculture development. “Some economic problems may appear for us, and we will be unable to keep a zero import duty for certain,” he said. This primarily concerns agricultural products, Putin said. The political part of the agreement between Kiev and the E.U. was signed in March. Ukraine postponed signing the free-trade part of the deal, fearing economic losses. Ukraine’s President Pyotr Poroshenko said that he will be ready to sign the remaining part of the trade agreement soon after his inauguration. At the meeting, Putin dismissed the proposal by Andrei Danilenko, national milk producers’ trade union director, to ban on the supplies of Ukrainian milk and dairy products. Ukrainian products’ quality has deteriorated to a great extent lately, the trade unionist said. Learn more on itar-tass.com