Kiev Expects EU to Abolish Visas For Ukrainian Citizens in Fall - Deputy PM

Kiev expects to receive a visa-free regime with the European Union in the fall, but does not exclude the possibility of the European Union postponing this decision for several months, Ukraine's vice-prime minister for European integration said Friday.

KIEV (Sputnik) — On Thursday, the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs recommended granting visa-free travel to Ukrainians, as well as Georgians and Kosovars, thus saying that the three countries had made headway in meeting EU benchmarks for lifting visa requirements.

"We expect that this [granting Ukraine visa-free regime with the Euroepan Union] will take place in early fall, when the Council of the EU must take the appropriate decision," Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze told Ukrainian Fokus magazine.

She noted that Kiev is aware of the fact that the EU institutions will be distracted from cooperation with Ukraine and other non-EU countries amid Brexit-related issues.

"This could lead to the short postponement, but I do not see any reason why we would not receive a visa-free regime this year," Klympush-Tsintsadze said.

The opinions of the Foreign Affairs Committee will be sent to the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee, which will vote on them after the summer recess.