"CEE and WTO harmonization is a must. Without harmonization the CEE as it was initially designed will not take place", Gref told journalists on Monday.
Commenting on the process of negotiations in Ukraine's accession to the WTO, he called it a "normal movement". "Ukraine has gone a long way (in the negotiating process)", Gref believes.
"Our actions, unfortunately, lack coordination", he added.
At the same time, he thinks that Ukraine's progress in joining the WTO "does no harm" to Russia. "We do not stand in each other's way. If Ukraine joins the WTO before us, it will be a boon for us", he continued.
Gref noted that "a tremendous amount of problems in trade" have been inherited from the former leadership of Ukraine.
"The old government liked to engage in subsidies and privileges (for its producers). This was the pretext for our measures of protection with regard to Ukrainian products", said the Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister.
