Pushkov estimated the losses of Ukraine from signing an agreement with the EU

The losses of Ukraine in connection with the signing of an association agreement with the European Union in the next year can reach $ 30-40 billion. This was stated by the head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Pushkov, Interfax reports.

“The main problem that arises in connection with the signing of the economic part of the Association Agreement with the European Union is the same problem that Ukraine was faced with Yanukovych. This is that Ukraine will not be able to sell its products on the Russian market on the same conditions as before, since each free trade zone has its own requirements and instructions, and because of this Russia will have to reconsider the conditions in which Ukraine trades with us, ”Pushkov explained.

The State Duma representative added that Russia "will not be able to leave zero tariffs on the border, this is impossible." Pushkov indicated that the further losses of the Ukrainian side would also be significant, since "zones of free trade with the European Union and Russia are notable." In addition, according to him, Ukraine may encounter a very low competitiveness of its goods in European markets.

“This will cause a very significant blow to its industry and production until it is able to increase the level of its competitiveness, and this is at least a few years,” said Pushkov. He indicated that the Ukrainian side will have a difficult period of adaptation to a new economic reality, which will be the result of signing an agreement with the EU.

On June 20, the Committee of Civil Initiatives Alexei Kudrin, in the report “A Deadlock of Integration in Europe”, estimated the losses of Ukraine after signing the economic part of the EU Agreement at $ 33 billion a year, or 19% of the country's GDP. Experts noted that the final edition of the report should be published in September; It is possible that the assessment of damage to the Ukrainian side will change by that time.

In turn, at the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine last November, it was calculated that Russia’s introduction of restrictive measures after Kiev signed an agreement with the European Union may lead to a reduction in the volume of Ukrainian exports in the Russian Federation by $ 8 billion, and Ukraine GDP will decrease by 0.5-1%in 2014.

The Association of the EU and Ukraine planned to be signed in November 2013, but this did not happen. The European authorities rejected the requirements of the Ukrainian authorities related to compensation for potential losses for the country's economy, as well as the proposal of Kyiv to discuss the document with Russia. The new government of Ukraine resumed negotiations on the Association with the EU, and on March 21 the political part of the agreement was signed.