Ukraine Leader Brushes Off Moscow - WSJ.com
KIEV, Ukraine—President Viktor Yanukovych brushed off Moscow's latest efforts to woo Ukraine into a Russia-led trade bloc, insisting in an interview that Kiev wants special terms that would allow it to develop relations with the European Union as well.
European Pressphoto Agency
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych shook hands with Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during Mr. Putin's visit to Kiev earlier this month.
In recent weeks, Moscow has stepped up pressure on Ukraine to join its Customs Union, which already includes former Soviet republics Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on a visit to Kiev on April 12 that membership would bring benefits of up to $9 billion a year for Ukraine. Other officials suggested Ukraine could save $8 billion a year on its gas bill to Russia if it joined the Customs Union.