Pavlo Klimkin partakes in the meeting in the format Group of Friends of Ukraine in the EU + Ukraine

On December 15, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin took part in a meeting in the format Group of friends of Ukraine in the EU + Ukraine at the level of Foreign Ministers of EU countries, which was held on the eve of a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

The main attention was focused on events in the East of Ukraine and ways to stabilize the situation in the region. In this regard, P. Klimkin stressed that the Ukrainian side is holding ceasefire regime and ready to seek a political solution based on the peace plan of the President of Ukraine P. Poroshenko and the Minsk agreement.

Moreover, the Minister informed the participants on the adoption of the programme of the new Government of Ukraine and stressed that the priorities include the introduction of systemic reforms in compliance with the European standards to achieve a key goal - Ukraine's membership in the European Union.

The EU Foreign Ministers welcomed the fact that reset of the Ukrainian government was over and noted that the country would have overall support of the European Union on the way of carrying out urgent priority reforms, in particular on decentralization, reforming the judiciary, law enforcement bodies and curbing corruption.

Pavlo Klimkin expressed gratitude to the EU for the support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and urged to continue a consistent policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.

The main outcome of the meeting was the EU's willingness to consistently support Ukraine, including at the bilateral level, and to work following a solidarity principle to de-escalate the situation in Donbas.