"It [the switch to a non-preferential trade regime] will happen if the situation does not change and there is no agreement in the trilateral format [which includes Russia, Ukraine and the EU] by the end of this year," Medvedev said at an expanded ministerial meeting of the Russia-Belarus Union State.
"My view is that the possibility of such an agreement is highly unlikely, but miracles happen, including in political life," Medvedev added.
Russia, as Ukraine's largest trading partner, has repeatedly insisted on being included in negotiations concerning Ukraine's EU association, suspecting the process, if not monitored, could result in an uncontrolled flow of European goods into the Russian market.
Russia’s concerns over the implementation of the agreement caused the postponement of the free-trade zone's implementation until early 2016.
