Putin pledges no sanctions vs Ukraine, sees relations spoiling Jan

MOSCOW, Dec 17 (PRIME) -- Russia will introduce no sanctions against Ukraine but the economic relations will spoil anyway because Ukraine will have no trade preferences with Russia from January 1, President Vladimir Putin told reporters at an annual press conference Thursday.

“We are not going to introduce sanctions of any kind concerning Ukraine. I want this to be heard…Ukraine cannot be put into positions which are worse than for any other partners outside, but sure Ukraine will have no incentives and no preferences in trade with Russia from January 1, 2016,” Putin said.

Putin signed on Wednesday a decree to suspend a CIS free-trade zone deal with Ukraine from January 1, 2016, when Kiev enters the framework of the E.U. trade association.

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