Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel

On Wednesday, January 8, in the framework of his official visit Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

During a joint press conference following the meeting, the Prime Minister of Ukraine expressed his condolences to the French people on the occasion of the terrorist attack that occurred the previous day in Paris, “It's a horrible terrorist act”.

“We, in Ukraine, are facing terrorism every day. And with joining forces - of the EU, Germany as key and leading among the EU member countries, and Ukraine – we must do everything to prevent the threat of terrorism being spread across Europe”, said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed that during a meeting with Angela Merkel there were discussed the issues of “both the future of Ukraine and the future of European security, as security matters in Ukraine and the state of affairs in Ukraine have a direct impact on the entire European Union”, “The more security and peace there is in Ukraine, the more security and peace there is in the EU”.

In particular, the meeting dealt with the discussion of issues of “hard but necessary reforms in Ukraine”, “In 2014 we managed to control the situation, despite the fact that Ukraine is in a state of undeclared war, unleashed by the Russian Federation. We passed the democratic parliamentary and presidential elections, we formed a coalition, which has a constitutional majority in the new Ukrainian Parliament, and the Government of Ukraine has done, is doing and will continue to work even harder to carry out the difficult but much needed reforms for the country.”

“These reforms concern as well the reduction of the fiscal deficit, and, unfortunately, the closure of a number of social programs – on the temporary basis, as the situation requires, and raising the tariffs to market levels, changes in the taxation base, curbing corruption. Including fight against influential business groups, which may affect Ukrainian politics,” the PM stressed.

According to him, to make Ukraine successful, we have to get a financial stabilization package, “With this purpose the Government of Ukraine has endorsed a number of complicated, but correct laws, and with this purpose the Government has embarked on reforms”.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that the previous year Ukraine had received an appropriate financial assistance, “I would like also to address German taxpayers to inform that we don't get any help on irrevocable basis. We return everything and praise highly that such assistance is granted”.

The Head of Government mentioned that at the account of USD 9 billion dollars, received by Ukraine the previous year from the IMF and our Western partners, the Government had paid off USD 14 billion of loans.

“We adhere to the principle of transparency, responsibility and accountability. In case we get such assistance, we are ready not just to report, but in the frames of our collaboration to provide any information about what are the reforms carried out in Ukraine, where these funds are spent and what else should be done in Ukraine to approach closer and closer to the EU and meet the European standards”, he stressed.

Moreover, Arseniy Yatseniuk accentuated that during a meeting with Federal Chancellor there was considered “a core issue of stabilization of the situation in the East - execution of the Minsk agreement”, “Ukraine implemented its part, including adopting unpopular in the country, but necessary at that time laws - the law on the special status of Donetsk and Luhansk, on amnesty. The President of Ukraine issued an order on ceasefire. Apart from that, we were ready to hold local elections in the respective territories, but, unfortunately, Russia didn’t execute any single point of the Minsk agreement.”

“Russia illegally annexed Crimea and seized the Ukrainian territory. Russia sent its army and its troops to the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia is supplying weapons to the Russia-led terrorists. Russia broke every bilateral and multilateral international deals and violated a key principle of the territorial integrity of an independent state - Ukraine. And all this has been done and is being done under the leadership of the Russian President”, emphasized Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

According to him, the Minsk accord is “the only document which can be the basis to move towards settlement of the conflict”, and this document must be executed by the Russian Federation, “Now it's not about words, but about actions. Russia must act, take away their bandits from Ukrainian territory, regain control over the Ukrainian-Russian border, stop supplying weapons, and then we can follow the path of de-escalation of the conflict”.

“There is still time and there is every opportunity for Russia to execute what it signed and what the Russian President authorized,” he urged.

“Peace in Ukraine and peace in Europe, the success of Ukraine and Germany are the key tasks that were discussed today with the Federal Chancellor”, summed up Arseniy Yatsenyuk.