Volodymyr Groysman at a meeting with MEPs: The European Parliament and the Ukrainian Government share the stance to extend sanctions against the Russian Federation

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman had a meeting on Wednesday with a delegation of members of the European Parliament. The parties discussed top priority issues of the agenda, in particular the completion of the ratification of the Association Agreement with the European Union, the introduction of a visa-free regime, and countering Russian aggression.

The Prime Minister thanked for the support of Ukraine by the European Union under the current challenges. "We feel the support of the European Parliament here, your leading position in this process. We feel your active stance in the development of bilateral relations and matters of the Association", said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Head of Government stressed that Ukraine expects finalizing the ratification of the Association Agreement of Ukraine with the European Union and a decision of the European Parliament on visa liberalisation for Ukraine in the coming weeks.

In this context, Andrej Plenković, Head of the European Parliament's delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee noted that the European Parliament is committed to support Ukraine, in particular regarding the ratification of the Association Agreement with the EU and the decision on introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine to be taken at a Parliament meeting in Strasbourg.

He said that on 26th September there would be held a meeting of the European Parliament Committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs and be heard a report on the granting of the visa-free regime for Ukraine, which is positive.

Apart from that, the sides tackled Ukraine's confronting Russian aggression. Volodymyr Groysman informed the interlocutors on the developments in Donbas and thanked the European colleagues who had visited the east to witness the situation first-hand.

The Prime Minister called for consolidating the position in counteraction to the aggressor.

"We can't take steps to encourage further violence. We have no right to trade in values and principles," he said.

Volodymyr Groysman also emphasized sanctions against Russia mustn’t be lifted until peace is achieved: "To cancel the pressure on the aggressor means to capitulate. I believe that this is not the way of modern European democratic countries".

He assured the European side that the Government is devoted to the reform process, the course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration. He announced that certain progress had been achieved, in particular the anti-corruption policy, a judicial reform and civil service reform, decentralization, reaching macroeconomic stability.

"This path of internal reform is rather difficult, but our actions prove that we will succeed, particularly from the changes which ensure macroeconomic stability", said Volodymyr Groysman.