PM in Kiev: Full support for Ukraine continues to be among EU's primary tasks
At his meeting with Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Kiev Tuesday, Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas said that rumours of Russia's more constructive approach towards Ukraine are severely exaggerated, as Russia has unfortunately taken no real direct steps towards a restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
"Let's not forget how the conflict in Ukraine started in the first place, or how Russia has, among other things, done nothing to let Ukraine restore control over its borders as dictated by the Minsk agreements," Rõivas told Yatsenyuk according to a press release.
He reportedly assured the Ukrainian prime minister that the European Union has no plans to start acknowledging the annexation of Crimea.
When discussing the free trade agreement that was partially effected between Ukraine and the European Union last year, Rõivas said that Ukraine should take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the agreement, and offered Estonia's support in implementing it.
Rõivas acknowledged the Ukrainian Government for carrying out important reforms and also stressed the importance of intensifying the fight against corruption and improving the efficiency of the judicial system. Decentralization efforts should also continue. Rõivas said that the police reform that is currently being carried out successfully sets a great example for the Ukrainian public sector as well as other reforms.
"We also expect Ukraine to take all the steps needed to meet visa freedom conditions with the European Union within this year," Rõivas said at the meeting.