President of Ukraine Petro
Poroshenko held negotiations with Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Løkke
Rasmussen.
The parties discussed the
situation in Donbas and the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Head of
State informed on the lasting escalation of the situation in the area of
conflict where pro-Russian militants continue shelling the positions of Ukraine
and sabotaging the agreements. “Despite provocations from the other side, the
Ukrainian party keeps fulfilling its obligations strictly,” the President said.
The Head of State noted that
Ukraine was grateful for the clear position of Denmark on the necessity of
continuation of sanctions against Russia for the non-fulfillment of its
obligations under the Minsk agreements. “We consider sanctions not as an
instrument of punishment, but as a motivation for Russia to stay at the
negotiating table,” the President stressed.
The President expressed
gratitude to the Prime Minister of Denmark for the position of principle in the
context of the non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia
and for supporting Ukraine’s efforts aimed at the liberation of the peninsula
and protection of human rights there. “Yesterday, another red line has been
crossed and the functioning of the Mejlis has been forbidden,” the President
informed on another violation of human rights and freedoms in Crimea.
The parties urged Russia to
liberate Ukrainian citizens illegally retained in Russia, particularly Nadiya
Savchenko and Oleg Sentsov, as well as prisoners of war in Donbas.
In the course of the meeting,
the parties discussed the Association Agreement that has already started
functioning within provisional application and brought the first results. “We
are opening the European market rapidly and it is a two-way road,” the Head of
State noted.
Petro Poroshenko emphasizes
that the EU keeps opening for Ukrainians. In the coming days, President of the
European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker will submit respective legislative
proposals on the visa-free regime for consideration by the Council of the EU
and European
The Head of State thanked
Copenhagen for its solidarity with Ukraine in the issue of the entry into force
of the Association Agreement. “This process cannot be stopped. In this regard,
the Dutch referendum is not an insurmountable circumstance, because all 27 EU
member-states have ratified the Agreement,” he said.
The President thanked the
Danish Government for providing technical assistance to Ukrainian reforms and
humanitarian support for people who live in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The Head of State noted the
activity of the Ukrainian-Danish energy center as a successful project of
technical assistance of Denmark, which facilitates the improvement of Ukraine’s
energy policy.
Petro Poroshenko invited
Danish business to continue investing in Ukraine and opening new opportunities
in Ukraine: “Today, the Ukrainian-Danish Business Forum 2016 is taking place in
Kyiv under the patronage of the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Demark. I am
confident that it will open the Ukrainian market for Danish investors and establish
direct business contacts between our states”.
In his turn, Lars Løkke
Rasmussen emphasized that his country firmly supported Ukraine’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty. According to him, Copenhagen stands for the
continuation of sanctions against Russia until full implementation of its
obligations under the Minsk agreements.
The Prime Minister of Denmark
informed that he had held a fruitful meeting with newly appointed Prime
Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman. He believes this meeting will intensify
bilateral relations between the two states.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen noted a
significant success of Ukraine in the transformation of the Ukrainian society
in the last two years and creation of favorable investment climate. The Prime
Minister of Denmark stressed the importance of continuing reforms.
Over 30 representatives of
Danish companies interested in investing in Ukraine are accompanying the Prime
Minister of Denmark in the course of his visit to Ukraine. “It is very
symbolic. It opens huge potential for increasing the volume of investments in
Ukraine and bilateral trade,” the Prime Minister of Denmark said. At the same
time, this interest has been increased after the entry into force of the
Association and DCFTA Agreement between Ukraine and the EU on January 1, as
stated by the Prime Minister.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen assured
that Denmark would support the immediate adoption of the decision on the
establishment of the visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens by the Council of
the European Union and European Parliament.
The Prime Minister of Denmark
has made the first visit to Ukraine in the history of bilateral relations
between the two countries.
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