Poroshenko hopes Russia to abandon plans on restrictions on Kyiv following trilateral consultations with EU

"In relation to the free trade area of the [Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States], Ukraine remains a party to this treaty which clearly sets forth the rights and obligations of the parties. The only problem is to ensure that all the parties strictly implement all the obligations that they bound upon themselves by signing and ratifying this treaty," Poroshenko said after talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana on Friday. Poroshenko noted that Russia and Kazakhstan are member states in World Trade Organization and are obliged to fulfil their respective obligations. "On our part, we believe that any full-scale entry into force of a more profound and comprehensive free trade area with the European Union for Ukraine will only expand the scope of opportunities for our cooperation," Poroshenko said, adding that during the talks, the parties stressed the importance of the creation of joint ventures both in Ukraine and in Kazakhstan.