MOSCOW. February 26. KAZINFORM There are no real legal obstacles to prevent Ukraine from joining the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

"We think that this issue should be considered very closely," Andrei Nesterenko said.

"The Russian side doesn't see any legal obstacles to Ukraine's entry into the Customs Union, which began operating on January 1."

"Of course, this will need the consent of the EurAsEC member-states at the first stage and of the Customs Union member-states at the second stage," he added.

The statement comes after reports that new Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is willing to start talks on the country's entry into the Customs Union.

The possibility of joining the group drew criticism from Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Yanukovych's defeated opponent in the February 7 presidential runoff, who has not recognized the president's victory in the election.

Yanukovych has said his administration would not continue with former President Viktor Yushchenko's bid to take Ukraine into NATO, and would prioritize long-established relations with Russia and other CIS countries; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

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