Ukraine looks forward to agreeing with the European Union on a specific timeframe for launching a comprehensive review of achieving the objectives of the Association Agreement with the EU. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal stressed during a meeting with the President of the European Council Charles Michel on February 9 during a working visit to Brussels (Kingdom of Belgium).

Denys Shmyhal accentuated that Ukraine expects that the meeting of the Association Council will ensure progress in the further development of Ukraine's economic integration with the EU.

"We consider the Association Agreement as a tool for Ukraine's integration into the EU, while the activities on its implementation - as a basis for bringing our economies and markets closer," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Prime Minister noted that among the topmost priorities of Ukraine is to start a dialogue on updating the parameters of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the EU.

"This will promote the further development of bilateral trade, as well as strengthen the sectoral provisions of the Agreement," said the Prime Minister.

The Head of Government noted the significance of starting a formal focused dialogue with the EU on Ukraine's green transformation and harmonization of Ukrainian policy with the European Green Deal.

"Ukraine is committed to further integration of energy markets with the EU, implementation of energy reforms in order to fulfill the obligations to harmonize Ukrainian energy legislation with EU laws," the Prime Minister stressed.

Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to personally Charles Michel and the European Union in general for supporting the goals of creating the Crimean Platform: "We expect the European Union to actively participate in the inaugural Summit of the Platform, which is scheduled for August 2021 in Kyiv."

During the meeting, the Prime Minister also thanked the European Union for its unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and for its consistent policy of sanctions against the Russian Federation.

In conclusion, Denys Shmyhal invited Charles Michel to visit Ukraine and noted that this would be another evidence of the sustained support for our country by the EU.

For his part, the President of the European Council accepted the proposal and promised to pay a visit to Ukraine.