Ukraine's PM Hopes EU to Decide on Visa-Free Regime With Kiev in October

Ukraine's Prime Minister expressed hope on Thursday that the European Union would make a decision on the visa liberalization with Kiev in October.

KIEV (Sputnik) — Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman expressed hope on Thursday that the European Union would make a decision on the visa liberalization with Kiev in October.

"I hope that in October, the European institutions will finally make this decision, Ukraine, for its part, has fulfilled all the requirements," Groysman said at the meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk.

Tusk arrived in Ukraine on a two-day visit on Wednesday. He welcomed Ukraine's progress on reform implementation, especially noting Ukraine's "impressive results" in the economy and cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In 2014, Kiev and Brussels signed association agreement opening the way for Ukraine's integration into the bloc. It was formally ratified by all EU member states but the Approval Act for the ratification of the deal, adopted by the Dutch parliament in 2015, has not entered into force yet.

In December 2015, the European Commission gave a positive assessment of Ukraine successfully meeting all benchmark requirements necessary for the liberalization of the visa regime with the Schengen zone.

On Monday, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs supported a report and a draft resolution on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime with the European bloc.