KIEV, Dec. 18 - Ukraine could be a member of the Customs Union formed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and a member of a free trade area with the European Union at the same time, Regions Party faction parliamentarian and deputy chairman of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Leonid Kozhara, told the Channel 5 television station.

"What is the difference between the Customs Union and a free trade area with the EU? The Customs Union is a supranational organization, which sets trading rules in a certain center. These rules are set by the union's board, not national agencies. A free trade area, is, in effect, a negotiating process that addresses each group of commodities, which means that it does not have any supranational dimension," Kozhara said.

"In theory, it is possible to be members of both organizations. If the Customs Union has an advanced trade area with the EU, in this case Ukraine could be a member of the Customs Union. There are no contradictions," he said.