Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
When we last met in December, I pledged that
Europe would stay the course on Ukraine, and I asked the same of Ukraine. Since
then, we have delivered on that commitment.
The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area is now
provisionally applied, which will contribute to improving Ukraine's economy and
strengthen its economic reform agenda.
Tomorrow marks two years since the illegal
annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. I assured
President Poroshenko that our policy of
non-recognition will remain in place.
We continue to support the diplomatic efforts
aimed at implementing the Minsk agreements. Further determined efforts are
needed. Our economic sanctions against Russia remain linked to the complete fulfilment of the Minsk Agreements.
We have also discussed the issue of Nadiya Savchenko, who is still in
illegal detention in Russia. Let me in this context reiterate the call by the
EU for her immediate release, along with Oleh Sentsov and all other illegally detained Ukrainian
citizens.
President Poroshenko
also outlined the efforts to overcome current political difficulties inside
Ukraine. I hope that a solution will soon be found, which will enable Ukraine
to continue the reforms demanded by the Ukrainian people. The IMF package needs
to be delivered in full and the EU stands by you in these reform efforts.
I am also happy to note that further steps have
been taken on visa liberalisation. Following the
positive report by the Commission in December, Ukraine has taken the key steps
in meeting its outstanding commitments. I trust it will soon be possible to
take the next steps towards finalising this process.
Now let me make a few short comments on the
European Council meeting. Most of the attention is focused on the objective to
agree on a further strengthening of our cooperation with Turkey. As the
negotiations intensify and we are moving into difficult talks, I want to recall
three basic principles that will guide our work.
First,
the agreement must be acceptable to all 28 Member States, no matter big or
small.
Second,
the agreement must fully comply with EU and international law.
And third, the agreement must effectively help
to solve the migration crisis and contribute to our comprehensive strategy,
which includes getting back to Schengen, ending the wave-through policy,
humanitarian assistance to Greece, support to the Western Balkans and of course
the reinforced cooperation with Turkey.
Only if we all work together in a coordinated
manner and keep our cool, will we achieve success. I am cautiously optimistic,
but frankly speaking more cautious than optimistic.
European Council