"Let Russia determine how it wants to develop its economy. We have come to a determination. The Ukrainian economy will meet European standards, and consequently the FTA will enter into force," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasised at a briefing following the meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday, 23 October.

He stressed that since January 2016 the Agreement on the free trade area between Ukraine and the EU will come into force, "Russia, like any other country, has no veto on our bilateral relations with the European Union."

"This agreement is aimed at developing economic relations between Ukraine and the European Union and is not related to our relations with Russia. We have the multilateral agreement on the free trade area between Ukraine and the CIS, where Russia also participates, but Russia does not fulfill this agreement," stressed Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The Head of Government has pointed out that it was held "seven rounds of consultations, both political and technical – as to the implementation of the Agreement on the free trade area": "We have not heard from Russia any reasoned discussion about what's so scary for the Russian economy."

He has also highlighted that Ukraine is getting rid of dependence on the Russian markets, "Previously, we were completely dependent on the Russian markets, today - only at 12%."