The Government of Ukraine is carrying out fundamental reforms, whilst Russia is opening the third front against Kyiv - now in the Azov-Black Sea region. The occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas and the construction of the Kerch Strait Bridge are components of aggression, sanctions against which must only be strengthened - consistently and publicly. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during the fifth meeting of the  EU-Ukraine Association Council. The Head of Government met with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

"Sanctions against the aggressor country must be preserved until full implementation of the Minsk agreements by Moscow. We praise the recent decision of the European Council to prolong economic and sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation. An offense involving the use of chemical weapons in Salisbury, Russian cyber attacks against EU Member States and anti-European propaganda launched by Moscow indicate that aggressive Russian politics is a threat not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe," the Head of Government claimed.

In this context, the Prime Minister stressed that Kyiv-Brussels cooperation should be switched from the "partnership and cooperation" format to a serious dialogue, which envisages the formulation of sector-based cooperation in the economy, energy, in the digital and, directly, in the security sphere.

"Ukraine continues to implement reform despite external challenges. We have made progress in decentralization, reform of the energy sector and civil service spheres. We entered the final straight concerning the launch of the work of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court. Education, medical and pension reforms are being introduced. Important changes in the areas of privatization and reform of state-owned enterprises are also being carried out " Volodymyr Groysman said.

The Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement which was assessed during the meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council is a roadmap for the implementation of the abovementioned processes.