Today, July 2, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv took part in the opening of the Ukraine Reform Conference in Toronto, Canada.

In his address, Stepan Kubiv outlined the achievements of Ukraine and stressed the importance of further consolidation of international efforts aimed to support the reforms path and restore peace in Ukraine.

"External challenges facing Ukraine today are the trial not only for us. This is a certain test for confirming the shared identity for a united Europe, the common democratic world. Canada is the first consistent and reliable ally in countering Russian aggression for the sake of restoring peace in Ukraine, Europe and the rest of the world. For as long as the danger threatens Ukraine, the world cannot feel secure", said the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.

Stepan Kubiv noted that these days we all live in the era of globalization of the economy and collective security. He also added that Ukraine withstands serious internal threats, among which corruption, populism and the need to accelerate the progress of reforms.

"Ukraine has the right and a chance to change. The chance it has been deprived since it gave up the world's third largest nuclear weapons stockpile in exchange for guarantees under the Budapest Memorandum. The chance for which there gave their lives and health 13,000 warriors in the East, over 30,000 wounded, nearly 1.7 million internally displaced persons. And yet - 20% of the economy, destroyed industrial potential through the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea and the actual war in the East", said Stepan Kubiv.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine noted that Ukraine has a chance to provide recovery and economic growth in a number of areas, moreover - it already shows the first signs of the sound economy. Stepan Kubiv gave an example of stabilizing the economy, where the aggregate GDP growth amounted to 8.4% during 2016-2018. Meanwhile, Ukraine annually directs more than 5% of Ukraine's GDP or USD 6 billion to security and defense.

"We have provided for the improvement of practically all spheres and directions. Those are the reform of education, medical industry, social sphere, and also decentralization, first successes of small privatization, reloading the system of state property management. All these achievements are definitely demonstrating the will of Ukraine for a decent life and its willingness to fight for the right to be healthy. For these purposes, cardinal reforms in key areas such as energy, agrarian industry, infrastructure, which will allow attracting private capital into these areas, thereby accelerating economic growth", said the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.