Fellow Ukrainian families, good evening!

Today I would like to talk about politics; specifically, about the political crisis that transpired in Ukraine.

Any crisis presents an opportunity. And the recent events only testify to the timeliness of such a crisis for Ukrainian politics and the national leadership.

It is now up to us to make the most of this opportunity, to review and overhaul the relationship between the branches of the Ukrainian government.

As an Executive Branch, we need to openly declare the guiding principles under which this Government is prepared to carry on with the program of reforms.

This Government took office as a unified team, a diverse body comprised of politicians, functionaries and technocrats. It did so as a consolidated executive unit which, for the past twelve months, has been making difficult and often unpopular, yet vitally important, decisions for the country.

I will be the first one to admit that mistakes were made along the way.

Often we were catching up with the whirlwind of events and the ever-increasing need to expedite reforms.

Similarly, however, I would ask you to acknowledge that for the past twelve months this Government has introduced and implemented more reforms in our country than all previous governments put together over the preceding two decades.

We’ve always known that some of these reforms would be quite unpopular.

However, this was the only recipe for Ukraine to be in a position to achieve any significant economic, societal or political successes in the foreseeable future; this was the only way for Ukraine to become a part of the European Union and the greater family of European nations.

So what are the principles which would enable this Government’s team to continue its work?

The first underlying principle is complete absence of political pressure and political corruption.

Each Minister, who was appointed through the Coalition Agreement, assumes full responsibility for the area of their competence, as well as for determining the development strategy of the sector they represent.

None of the political figures or business interests should be allowed to exert any pressure on a Minister or try to lobby a decision which would contradict the policy adopted by the Ministry, or the interests of the Ukrainian state at large.

The era of political quotas in the Executive Branch or the public service industry is over. Politics and big business interests managing the state-owned enterprises or banks should be a relic of the past.

The second guiding principle is zero tolerance for corruption, be it in politics or the economy. All appointments in the state-owned companies are to be made exclusively by a new independent Nominations Committee.

This is the only viable way for the sixty largest state enterprises to receive renewed and autonomous leadership, which would be independent of political factions and parties, or the business groups and elites.

2016 should, consequently, herald the start of a straightforward and transparent privatization program in Ukraine. This should include privatization of the Odessa Port Plant, the ‘Centerenergo’ and other energy companies.

The Parliament should adopt appropriate laws which would enable strategic investors to equally participate in transparent tenders for the acquisition of state enterprises.

Only through a fair and open process would we be able to attract foreign direct investment, create new jobs, modernize the Ukrainian economy, while ridding the state-owned companies of political influence or their former ‘breadwinner’ status for some of the political parties or the business groups.

The third is the principle of full disclosure in activities of all appointees in the Executive Branch, local self-governance bodies and members of the Ukrainian Parliament.

From now on, all joint sessions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will be streamed live in their entirety.

We must root out the old ways of circumventing the rules, which goes against the transparency ideals of the new-era Ukrainian politics; we must prevent any further attempts at backstage shady deals.

To that end, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is now introducing a resolution on a Code of Ethical Conduct of All Civil Servants.

We will also be submitting for review by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a Code of Integrity for All Politicians.

These decisions will make it compulsory to record details of all meetings and negotiations conducted by political figures and government authorities on behalf of the State.

The fourth is the principle of accountability. According to the Constitution of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers is directly answerable to the Verkhovna Rada.

It is the constitutional duty of the Prime Minister and each Minister to openly and honestly report to the Ukrainian Parliament on the job we were all hired to do.

This Government has been formed by the coalition forged in the Parliament. Consequently, all activities of the Government are determined by the Coalition Agreement and the Programme of Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which were ratified by the Ukrainian Legislative Branch.

This enables the Government to fulfill its duties as an Executive Branch.

However, it is the Ukrainian Parliament which needs to vote on the laws which are vitally needed for carrying out the reform program. The Verkhovna Rada should also have faith in the Government which it formed.

It should assist the Government in advancing the country by adopting the imperative legislative changes that are required by the Ukrainian State.

The fifth principle is that of equitable distribution of power. The President of Ukraine is the Head of the Ukrainian State, and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is accountable to the President.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the Executive Branch responsible for the social, economic, financial and fiscal policies. 

It is directly responsible for financing of the Armed Forces, which in turn requires the full extent of executive authority to be able to implement the strategy of reforms as defined by the Head of the State.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is the Legislative Branch, to which the Ukrainian Government is answerable, which enacts laws to enable implementation of the Programme of Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Coalition Agreement.

Political discussions on the need to reform at this Government have started on the first day following its appointment. Both the President or the Verkhovna Rada have the constitutional right to submit a no-confidence motion to the Parliament.

To any of our esteemed politicians who believe that the incumbent Government fails to implement the agreed program or fails to bring about required reforms:  150 votes is all it would take to submit a no-confidence resolution, followed by ratification in the Parliament, to enact the Government’s resignation.

This Government, however, will not be intimidated by the prospect of resignation!

All of us came here to bring about real change in the country.

Discussions should not revolve around personalities, but rather the adherence to the very specific set values and ideals we’ve all declared. Stabilizing the economy and achieving political stability in Ukraine should be our focus.

In their struggle for power and ‘lucrative appointments’, some politicians appear to have forgotten that Ukraine is in a state of war declared by Russia;  we have not yet overcome the economic crisis, and the people are expecting genuine transformations in the country.

My team and I will not stop halfway on this road of reforms.

That was the primary reason for the recall of resignation requests by several Ministers who decided to return to the Government, so that they are able to carry out the fundamental changes in the country.

And, importantly, to do so in line with the principles just outlined. If someone else has an alternative program or does not share these principles, we encourage them take on the full responsibility of the task.

In the meantime, we will continue on this path of building a strong, sovereign, European State of Ukraine.

My fellow Ukrainians! Now is not the time for dismay or discouragement.

We must be steadfast and resolute in our faith of the bright future. Our biggest triumphs are yet to come!

Yesterday I met with some incredibly smart and talented young IT specialists and programmers.

Young people with radiant eyes and an unwavering belief in the future of our country.

We simply cannot undermine their trust. We must prove that values and ideals of Maidan continue to win every day.

May God watch over Ukrainian families, our valiant army and our country!