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Ukraine Says 'No Confrontation'

KIEV — Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said there would be no confrontation with Russia.

"We don't just not want confrontation with Russia, but we will never allow it," he told the Ukrainian television channel Inter on Sunday. "There will be no enmity between Russia and Ukraine, at least while our government and our president are at the helm."

Kiev hopes to sign an Association Agreement and a free trade deal with the European Union in late November. Russia's authorities have repeatedly said they would have to introduce protective measures should Ukraine proceed with the agreements.

Tensions between the two countries are running high as Ukraine has repeatedly rejected Moscow's offers to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

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