Ukraine Meets Council of Europe for 3-year Plan
Ukraine is trying to capitalise on the current embarrassment of Russia, looking for the moral authority and the diplomatic recognition it needs to bargain better conditions at a European level.
Ukraine Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergiy Kyslytsya met with Director of the Directorate General of Programmes of the Council of Europe Verena Taylor on Wednesday.
‘The sides discussed the current issues of cooperation between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, particularly, regarding the implementation of existing and preparation of new Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine for the period until 2017,’ reads a note released on Thursday.
RUSSIA: WTO, FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, KAZAKHSTAN
On the other hand, Moscow is playing a more gentle game, softly unveiling minor projects to avoid a dangerous marginalisation.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev launched a new institute of credit and insurance support for export. At the same time, he hinted at the possibility of fighting Western sanctions making use of WTO mechanisms.
“We cannot tolerate anyone supporting their economies at our expense or to our detriment, or – which also happens today – introducing protectionist measures in the interest of specific companies under the guise of sanctions. And this is happening in violation of WTO commitments. Just like any other WTO member, Russia is entitled to use the WTO mechanisms to protect its interests. All the more so, as the road to WTO membership was rocky for us. We must learn to use this right in full. Frankly, so far, we haven’t mastered this tool properly,” Medvedev said on Thursday.
At the same time, the Russian Prime Minister did not refrain from underlining the importance of foreign investments.
“Russia is interested in long-term and high-value investments and projects that involve transferring innovative technology and creating modern and effective production facilities. Investors find joint projects with the participation of the state, development institutions and major Russian companies more attractive than simply relying on unilateral funding. We understand this and are willing to provide such conditions to our prospective partners.”
In this sense, the current situation might imply even better conditions for European and Western companies, as Russia needs to reassert its business ties with its traditional European partners to avoid a dangerous marginalisation. Nonetheless, doubts remain on how Medvedev's declarations will translate into reality.
Meanwhile, Russia is moving also on another front. Alexander Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, met with Uzakbai Karabalin, Minister of Oil and Gas of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
‘The parties discussed further cooperation in the gas sector and, in particular, the extension of the long-term agreement till 2038 – on purchase and sale of gas produced from the Karachaganakskoye gas and condensate field. A focus was also placed on the prospects for the joint development of the Imashevskoye gas and condensate field,’ Gazprom wrote on its website.