Ukraine could not help but delay the agreement with the EU, otherwise it would have faced lawsuits from the CIS
Kyiv, September 18 (PolitNavigator, Yuriy Kovalchuk) – Ukraine was not ready to sign the trade part of the association agreement with the EU, as this would have caused a wave of lawsuits from the CIS countries, said Igor Gritsak, director of the Center for Legal and Entrepreneurial Research, on the TV channel "Glad".
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“A few years earlier, Ukraine signed trade agreements with the CIS. If we now signed the trade-related part of the association agreement with the EU, where would we put the existing agreements, according to which we trade with Russia alone in 140 positions. Even despite the war, this trade continues and fills our budget. Therefore, it is great luck that the Europeans stopped putting pressure on us and gave us the opportunity to prepare for signing trade agreements. Otherwise, we would have been dragged through the courts,” says Gritsak.
The expert is also confident that Europe can provide financial assistance to Ukraine only after the onset of peace.
“At one time, there was a Marshall Plan, under which financial assistance was provided for restoration. But no one will give us money until there is lasting peace. Because the Europeans can help us restore the country, but no one will give us money for military expenses,” says Igor Gritsak.