EU Promises Ukraine Visa-free Regime by End of Year

The citizens of Ukraine in the near future will be able to travel to EU countries without visas. EU leaders promised to Ukrainian President Poroshenko to resolve the remaining issues before the end of this year.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and the chairman of the European Council Donald Tusk expect soon cancellation of the visa regime for Ukrainian citizens. Ukraine has fulfilled all conditions put before it, said Juncker at the EU - Ukraine in Brussels on Thursday, 24 of November. He expressed confidence that the Ukrainians will be able to attend the EU without visas for up to 90 days before the end of this year.

For his part, Donald Tusk said that Ukraine has fulfilled all the "homework" for the abolition of the visa regime with the EU, it remains only to agree the details of a "security mechanism" that allows them to cancel the visa regime in the event of mass abuse. Tusk expressed hope that an agreement will be reached with the European Parliament as early as this year.

Meanwhile, Petro Poroshenko urged the EU to fulfill the promise given to 45 million Ukrainians. He noted that it is the first EU – Ukraine summit, in which his country was not charged with any new requirements in connection with the planned abolition of the visa regime.

The day before the EU ambassadors during weekly consultation discussed a compromise proposal on the mechanism of security. According to one diplomat, a number of countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Belgium put forward a "critical questions" about the practical implementation of this mechanism. At the same time, Poland and the Baltic countries insisted on a speedy solution of outstanding issues. -02D-