Ukraine will officially join the World Trade Organization on May 16, the Geneva-based trade body said on April 17. The former Soviet republic ratified its accession on April 10 and the WTO said it received formal notification late on April 16.
Ukraine, which with Russia and Iran is one of the last large countries still outside the WTO, secured a membership invitation in February after 15 years of talks. Analysts say membership will give Ukraine a say in the ongoing entry talks of giant neighbor Russia. The two have frequently been embroiled in politicized disputes over their energy trade.
In January, President Viktor Yushchenko said he intended to use Ukraine's membership to reinforce Kiev's position in economic disputes with Moscow.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008
