By REUTERS
BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - Ukraine's president tried to reassure the
European Union on Thursday that his country would soon overcome a political
crisis that has rattled Western lenders and he won support for Kiev's cherished
goal of visa-free travel in Europe for its citizens.
Ukraine's unpopular prime minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, survived a
parliamentary vote of no-confidence last month but three parties have quit his
coalition and Western creditors who are keeping Ukraine's economy afloat are
frustrated with the slow pace of reforms.
"We have a political crisis in Ukraine and I hope that by the end of
the month we will find a solution," President Petro Poroshenko told
reporters, alongside European Council President Donald Tusk and European
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
"There will be no early parliamentary elections and the political
coalition will remain, will be responsible, orientated on reforms,"
Poroshenko said, adding that an EU-Ukraine summit would be held on May 19.
Western donors, including the EU and the United States, are urging Kiev's
leaders to remain unified to pass reforms needed to secure a further $1.7
billion in aid from the International Monetary Fund and to do much more to
tackle rampant corruption.
Diplomats said Tusk and Juncker had repeated this message to Poroshenko on
Thursday, arguing against new elections which would only further delay the
reforms. These include combating money laundering and setting up an asset
register for public officials to declare their wealth.
Some EU officials said the political bickering in Kiev meant there was less
political support in Brussels for Ukraine than six months ago.
"Poroshenko needs to decide whether he is one of the old oligarchs or
part of the new guard," said one EU official of the president, one of
Ukraine's richest men and owner of a sweets empire. "I don't think he has
made up his mind yet."
VISAS
In happier news for Kiev, Juncker said the European Commission would
formally propose next month exempting Ukrainians from needing visas to visit
the EU. The proposal would have to be approved by the EU's 28 national
governments and the European Parliament.
The promise of visa-free travel could yet face hurdles as Georgia, Kosovo
and Turkey are all seeking the same prize. Some in Europe, notably Germany, are
wary about opening the door to millions of non-EU travellers when the continent
is facing its worst migration crisis since World War Two.
The step would be the most tangible sign for Ukrainians that their 2014 Western-backed
uprising against a pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovich, is finally paying
dividends.
After Yanukovich fled to Russia, Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea region and
gave support to separatist rebels in mainly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine in
a conflict in which more than 9,000 people have been killed and is still
simmering.
Moscow denies sending arms or troops into Ukraine. (Reporting by Robin
Emmott; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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