KIEV, April 19 ??“ Ukraine is almost ready to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will seek to join the body ahead of Russia, First Deputy Economy Minister Serhiy Romaniuk said.

"We have everything 99% ready," Romaniuk said, adding that Ukraine will strive to enter the WTO sooner than Russia. "We've passed a long way towards WTO membership, and we're simply economically interested in being first."