MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Brussels hopes that Moscow will adopt a "rational" position during talks on the issue of Ukrainian association with the European Union, EU Ambassador to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said Monday.
Taking into consideration Moscow's concerns over the impact of the free-trade agreement between Brussels and Kiev on the Russian economy, the European Union agreed to Moscow's participation in the negotiations to be held in December.
"We expect that our flexible approach will correspond with Russia's rational position. The position that respects the choice of Ukraine," Usackas said.
In June 2014, Ukraine and the European Union reached a landmark association deal that seeks to create a free-trade zone between Ukraine and the 28-nation bloc.
Russia, as Ukraine's biggest trading partner, has repeatedly insisted on being included in the negotiations over Ukraine-EU association, fearing the process could result in an uncontrolled flow of European goods into the Russian market.
