Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting with President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt on Friday, May 13. The parties discussed the progress of reforms in Ukraine and the situation with the human rights violations in Donbas and Crimea.

Volodymyr Groysman noted that the newly formed Government had embarked on action and was eager to launch the large-scale reform process. The Government structure had been added with a position of Vice Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, to which Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze was appointed, and a post of Minister of the Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine. "This proves the priorities the Government has set. I believe we will achieve progress in this direction," he stressed.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government is striving to root out corruption. Also the Cabinet of Ministers focuses on struggle against institutional weakness, further power decentralization, reforming judicial and economic spheres, public privatization, as well as fulfilment of international obligations of Ukraine, in particular in the framework of the Cooperation Program with the IMF and the Association Agreement with the European Union.

The Prime Minister informed that Prosecutor General of Ukraine had been recently appointed. "I anchor hopes that a lot will change for the better," he said.

Volodymyr Groysman also informed his interlocutor about the situation in Donbas and in Crimea and consistent human rights abuses by the aggressor, in particular against the Crimean Tatars. "In this direction we should generate action to settle the problem", he stressed.

The Head of Government stressed the need to extend sanctions against the Russian Federation. "Lifting of sanctions is only possible when the aggressor withdraws from the Ukrainian territory and fulfils all necessary obligations under the Minsk agreements, and also returns the territory of Crimea it seized having waged the war", said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister thanked the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt for the consistent support of Ukraine. "The success of Ukraine is the best response to the aggressor and the best signal for our international partners," emphasized Volodymyr Groysman.

PACE President assured of willingness of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to provide all necessary support to Ukraine on its way towards peace and prosperity. The PACE is closely monitoring the developments with Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko detained in Russia.

Pedro Agramunt noted that the Assembly was preparing a number of reports on the situation in Ukraine, in particular regarding the legal aspects of the situation with Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories, the humanitarian consequences, and concerning the fight against corruption. In this context, he noted that the PACE welcomed the steps of Ukraine aimed at overcoming corruption.