Russia could join the World Trade Organization on Jan. 1, 2009, a Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry official said.
"We're hoping that accession talks will be wrapped up by May and, allowing for the administrative, legal and technical formalities, that our commitments will enter into force by Jan.1, 2009, or thereabouts," Andrei Kushnirenko, deputy head of the ministry's Trade Negotiations Department, told reporters, according to the Interfax news agency.
The trade body earlier this month approved the accession terms of Ukraine on Tuesday, preparing the way for the country's full membership in the global trade body.
Ukraine officials at that time said they would not block Russia's WTO accession bid, although there are some bilateral trade issues that still need to be resolved between the two countries.
Journal of Commerce
