Energy issues to dominate talks of Russian and Kazakhstani presidents in Ufa

MOSCOW, July 6 /TASS/. Energy issues will dominate the talks between the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan in Ufa on July 9, Russian president’s aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists on Monday. "Special attention will be paid to energy issues. Kazakhstan transport the bulk of oil extracted in its territory via Russia to external markets," Ushakov said adding that Russian and Kazakhstani companies were implementing a number of joint projects. "The sides have made progress in implementing a strategic project for the construction of a Russian model of a nuclear power plant in the city of Kurchatov," Ushakov went on to say. Kremlin also expects that bilateral trade between the two countries will start growing steadily in conditions of the Eurasian Economic Union. Asked to comment whether Ukraine will participate in the SCO summit in Ufa on July 10, Ushakov said that the answer would most likely be "no". "As far as we know, the answer is ‘no’," the presidential aide said. "In 2014, Ukraine applied to join the SCO as a dialogue partner that usually do not attend the organization’s summits," Ushakov explained. Ushakov could not say anything whether Kiev had dropped its plans to join the SCO as a partner. "Apparently, all consultations on this subject are being conducted by the SCO Secretariat. The Ukrainian side is not engaged in any bilateral discussions with us," Putin’s aide said. Read more