"The progress report of the European Commission means that next year the EU will be able to finally open the door for visa-free travel of our citizens. This is the result of the Maidan. Meanwhile, it is also a good example of what the unity of the Government, Parliament and President gives," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Ten Minutes on Sunday, December 20.

"As expected, Russia has introduced trade sanctions against Ukrainian goods because of our European choice. But we will handle this and give a proper response to the Kremlin. The same one we gave after the refusal of Russia to restructure $ 3.5 billion of the so-called Russian debt, which was nothing but a political bribe of Moscow to its puppet, which ruled in Ukraine," he stressed.

"The aim of this bribe was just to rob Ukraine of a free-visa regime as well as free trade zone with the European Union. That is why the Government of Ukraine has introduced a moratorium and stopped the payment of this debt to the state-aggressor," underlined Arseniy Yatsenyuk, adding that the amount of this debt is almost equal to expenditures on national security and defense of Ukraine in 2016.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk recalled that two days ago, on 18 December, the European Commission published the last report on the full implementation by Ukraine of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization with the European Union: "This report means that next year the EU will be able to finally open the door for visa-free travel of our citizens, open its door to the European Union for the Ukrainian citizens".

"This achievement cannot be overemphasized. This means that the borders of the united Europe move to the Ukrainian-Russian frontier, which we need to return," pointed out the Prime Minister.

He stressed that the main author of this success was the Ukrainian society and active civil society institutions, "This is the result of the Maidan. Meanwhile, it is also a good example of what the unity of the Government, Parliament and President gives."

Granting a visa free regime, the Prime Minister emphasised, is the result of reforms and evidence that the reforms are being carried out: "We have done a lot for this purpose. Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements of the plan and meets the criteria of a state that could be in a joint visa-free space with the European Union."

"As Prime Minister I rejoice at this progress. At the same time, I treat it carefully and sensibly. We have no right to settle down," highlighted Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

In particular, according to the Head of Government, all anti-corruption bodies have to start functioning fully in 2016: "Combating corruption is not political slogans and empty accusations of politicians on TV talk shows but the thorough work of detectives and investigators, the proof of guilt of every corrupt and prosecution under the new law and fair judiciary. That is why we need judicial reform."

"We need unity for very specific actions and decisions," he added.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also stressed the need to immediately approve the state budget for the next year: "The budget is a policy of state for 2016, namely, economic stability, social security, financing of the army, reforming of education and medicine, building of new infrastructure. The Government and the coalition will be able to take such a decision."

Moreover, next week the Parliament must approve changes to the tax legislation: "This is a major step for the development of business, reduction of taxes and increase of jobs in the country."

The Prime Minister also reminded that an EU-Ukrainian free trade zone would be launched on 1 January: "We will become part of the largest market in the world - the European Union’s market."