Arseniy Yatsenyuk on the results of G7 summit: "Support for Ukraine confirmed, no single step back"

Declaration on the results of the Group of Seven summit says first of all that the support for Ukraine has been confirmed, no one made a single step back, sanctions and pressure on Russia will continue, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized at a meeting with the Ukrainian community in the USA during his working visit to Washington on Monday, 8 June.

The Prime Minister noted that the Ukrainian issue was one of the key at the Group of Seven summit, which took place in Germany: "The declaration as to the results of the G7 summit confirms first of all that no one made a single step back."

Moreover, Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined, the Group of Seven states explicitly stated that "the issue on lifting sanctions can be raised in only one case - when the Minsk agreements are fully met, when Russia goes away from the territory of Ukraine."

He stressed that the Western partners in any case must not forget the issue of Crimea, and the declaration on the results of the Group of Seven summit says that the Group of Seven nations "condemn the illegal annexation of the Crimea and never recognize illegal annexation of the Ukrainian territory."

"Political signals are quite serious, but to political ones it is necessary to add financial, economic and military signals," Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of the defence weapons supply to Ukraine: "These weapons are not only for Ukraine – these weapons are needed to defend the eastern borders of the EU. Today we are defending Europe."

"This is a challenge to the whole world. He (Putin - ed.) has challenged the world. This is a challenge to NATO members as well," he highlighted.

On the financial cooperation between Ukraine and the USA, Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated that on July 13 Washington would host the Ukrainian-American Investment Conference: "We want to begin the process of privatization. If U.S. investors decide to invest in the Ukrainian state-owned companies, then we want to sell them in the most transparent conditions and see American owners on the Ukraine’s territory."

"They will bring not only investment but also new standards, new ways of how companies operate - a new investment culture," he added.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk expressed his appreciation of the support for Ukraine by the diaspora in the US, "Doing difficult work in Ukraine, we always feel your help and support."