Poroshenko: Ukraine is “divorced from the Russian Empire”, having bezviz
KIEV, may 11 — RIA Novosti. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko believes that, receiving a visa-free regime with the EU, Ukraine finally “issued your divorce with the Russian Empire.”
The EU Council on foreign Affairs approved on Thursday a final decision on granting Ukraine visa-free regime. The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko previously said that the agreement will be signed on may 17. After that the decision will be published in the EU official journal and after 20 days the Ukrainians will be able to travel to the EU without visas.
It is expected that a visa-free regime will come into effect approximately June 11. The EU Council stated that the European Union suspend the visa-free regime with Ukraine in case of a problem with migration and security.
“I would say that today Ukraine finalized your divorce with the Russian Empire, and so philosophically we perceive it to be,” said Poroshenko on Thursday in an interview to Ukrainian TV channel “1+1”.
The President also believes that the visa regime “Ukraine returns to its historic place in the European countries.”
The dialogue between the EU and Ukraine on visa liberalisation was launched in 2008, and in November 2010, the EU offered Kiev the action plan for visa-free regime. The Parliament of Ukraine adopted all the required legislation and the European Commission in December 2015, has confirmed the fulfillment of all the conditions Kiev. Initially, Kyiv expected to get visa-free regime until the end of 2016, but Europe has repeatedly postponed the issue. In early April the European Parliament approved the decision on visa-free regime, he was supported 521 of 751 deputies.