01/10/2014 Federation of Employers of Ukraine

Ukraine Should Connect the West and Russia – Dmitry Firtash

Ukraine should become a bridge between the West and Russia, and not be a launching ground. This was stated by the President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Dmitry Firtash during the international Round table “Ukraine in Europe: Peace and Development” held on October 1 in the Austrian capital.
 
“After the shift of power Ukraine has become a launching ground. We need to change this situation. Ukraine should become a bridge between the West and Russia”, said Dmitry Firtash.
 
The President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine noted that the European choice of Ukraine should not be discussed. At the same time Ukraine should maintain trade relations with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.
 
“If we want to build a strong economy, we must not lose the Russian market”, said Dmitry Firtash.
 
The FEU President also noted that in 2013 Ukraine's exports to 28 countries of the European Union had amounted to USD 15 billion. This is the same as Ukraine exported to Russia in 2013. It is beneficial for Ukraine to have the common market of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union with a population of 800 million people. According to Dmitry Firtash, maximum benefit can be derived from a triangular cooperation including the technological capabilities of the European Union, Russia's natural resources and transport potential of Ukraine. “And then, Ukraine will be able to use its geographic location and cash on it”, said Dmitry Firtash.

The Round table “Ukraine in Europe: Peace and Development” was organized by the NGO “German-Ukrainian Forum”. More than 150 influential politicians and experts from Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Great Britain and France took part in the discussion of the ways out of the crisis. In particular, the Professor of the Faculty of Economics at the Westphalian Wilhelm University, former Prime Minister of the German Federal State of Saxony Georg Milbrandt, Minister of Economic Affairs, the Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Chancellor of Austria Wolfgang Schüssel, Chairman of the Austrian-Ukrainian Parliamentary Group Axel Kassegger, former Federal Minister of Finance of Germany, the author of the euro rescue plan during the 2008 crisis Peer Steinbrück took part in the Round table. Also the Advisor to the President of Ukraine Marina Stavniichuk, Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko, President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Dmitry Firtash, former Head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Andriy Stryzhak, President of Ukraine (2005-2010 years) Viktor Yushchenko participated in the event from the Ukrainian side.