Russia-Ukraine Relations Unlikely To Normalize Even Under Zelenskiy - Moody's

Russia-Ukraine relations are unlikely to normalize even if Volodymyr Zelenskiy wins the presidential elections in Ukraine, Moody's said in a statement Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd April, 2019) Russia-Ukraine relations are unlikely to normalize even if Volodymyr Zelenskiy wins the presidential elections in Ukraine, Moody's said in a statement Tuesday.

"In foreign policy, Zelensky's statements suggest that he is likely to take a more conciliatory position vis-à-vis Russia (Baa3 stable), while maintaining a broadly European Union-oriented foreign policy stance. Still, a somewhat softer approach may help sustain the downward trend in the intensity of clashes in Eastern Ukraine, allowing a freezing of the conflict," it said.

"However, a complete rapprochement with Russia is unlikely because Zelensky would not accept Russia's annexation of Crimea or support granting wide autonomy to Russia-occupied parts of Eastern Ukraine. With a normalization in relations likely to be off the table, prohibitive trade restrictions will remain in place on both sides of the border," Moody's said.

It said uncertainty regarding energy supplies from Russia would remain regardless of the runoff outcome.