MOSCOW, March 20 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine would be inflicting unnecessary damage upon itself if it breaks off ongoing cooperation with Russia’s defense industry, a senior Russian official said Thursday.
“If the Ukrainian leaders who recently came to power choose the path of destructive engagement with Russia, I think they will be punishing themselves, punishing the Ukrainian people, who are happy to work with our businesses,” Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said.
Ukraine has angrily protested the reunification of Crimea with Russia following a referendum Sunday which saw voters in the region overwhelmingly back joining Russia after 60 years as part of Ukraine.
Borisov added that Russian and Ukrainian defense companies have a long history of cooperative ties in military research and development, and “to tear them down overnight is impossible.”
