MOSCOW, Dec. 25 - It is not in Ukraine's long-term interest to drag out negotiations for Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization if the country itself also wants to make a quick accession to the organization, said Maxim Medvedkov, head of the Russian delegation in negotiations for WTO accession and director of the trade negotiation department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

"In regards to Ukraine's claims against Russia, if Ukraine joins the WTO before Russia, several Ukrainian politicians actively make no secret of their desire to present a set of demands to us as a condition of our accession to the organization," he was quoted as telling Interfax.