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The Minister of foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin stated the readiness of his Department to introduce a visa regime with the Russian Federation in case of respective decision. He said this on the air “Evening Prime” on the TV channel “112 Ukraine”.
“I believe that even the introduction of a visa regime in the context of control of who comes from Russia, we know very little. We have to introduce biometric passports, but then more and control those who come,” — said Klimkin.
According to him, currently in Russia there are three million Ukrainians. For the implementation of the decision on introduction of the visa regime, as suggested by Klimkin, we need a clear approach and a clear vision of how events will develop in the future.
“While [we] need to understand what about our citizens who are in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea (Kiev does not recognize the results of the referendum in 2014, the results of which the Peninsula became part of Russia. — “Газета.Ru”)? What Russia will do in the sense to limit these contacts?” — the Minister added.
Regarding necessary procedures, the Minister vouched for his Department, saying that “the Ministry of foreign Affairs all do. To prepare, we have the appropriate experience, so the foreign Ministry in this regard, don’t worry.”
Before that, the Ukrainian Ministry of foreign Affairs talked about the possible difficulties with the people of Crimea, which Kiev continues to consider its citizens, but which are in Russian documents. So, for crossing the administrative border of the Republic of Crimea with Ukrainians require visas, if Moscow will respond mirror on the introduction of visas with Ukraine.
The speaker of the Ukrainian foreign Ministry Marian Betz also talked about the training Department for the introduction of a visa regime with Russia in case of adoption of a political decision.
However, she admitted that this issue is extremely complex: “We need a very deliberate and balanced approach to our strategy regarding the visa regime with the Russian Federation”.
Another important aspect Betz believes “uncontrolled part of the border, which exists and through which Russia continues to supply weapons, mercenaries and equipment on the uncontrolled territory.” Moscow rejects these accusations and does not recognize itself a party to the conflict. In addition, Russia has repeatedly denied allegations of supporting militias Donbass weapons and the military.
Betz also mentioned that the introduction of a visa regime will largely depend on the technical readiness of the Ukrainian foreign Ministry.
“And, of course, if you enter a visa regime, we will need a lot more people, many more people who will work in Russia, in order to grant the visa. You will also need and technical basis and material resources, we need additional funds,” she said.
Now in Russia there are five Ukrainian diplomatic missions: one Embassy, two consulates, and two of the Consulate General.
First Deputy Chairman of the faction “popular front” in the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Teteruk had previously stated that the now Parliament is counting votes of deputies who would vote for the introduction of visas with Russia, as well as being educated.
“In my opinion, immediately after Ukraine bezveza the following strategic question that must be addressed in Parliament is the introduction of a visa regime with Russia,” — said Teteruk 21 may, the TV channel “112 Ukraine”. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian Parliament documents on this issue did not fall.
Earlier Dmitry Peskov, press Secretary of the Russian President, described the discussion in Parliament of a possible introduction of a visa regime “Russophobic another round of discussions.”
Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised that in case of adoption by Ukraine of this decision Moscow will respond mirror.
“When we poured a stream of mud, when our artists, figures of culture, art declared persona non grata when you take a business Russian investors in Ukraine’s economy, when finally talking seriously about the introduction of the visa regime, do you think we have it all to swallow and not to reciprocate?”, — said Lavrov.