President at the meeting with newly appointed UK Ambassador to Ukraine: Freedom of the press is an absolute value for me

The Ukrainian President accepted credentials from Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Judith Gough.

The President thanked Great Britain in the person of the Ambassador for solidarity and comprehensive support for territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. “Great Britain is a reliable partner of Ukraine. We feel support of the United Kingdom and solidarity of British people with Ukrainians in these difficult times,” Petro Poroshenko said.

The parties discussed conditions and prospects of bilateral Ukrainian-British relations, particularly in the context of enhancement of military and military-technical cooperation. “Ukrainian and British militaries demonstrate willingness to stand side-by-side and defend not only territorial integrity of Ukraine, but also freedom and democracy on the entire European continent,” the President noted and thanked the Ambassador for the assistance of the United Kingdom in training of Ukrainian servicemen.

The President informed on the danger of disruption of the Minsk agreements and the peace process in Donbas due to the yesterday’s statements of leaders of pro-Russian terrorists on holding fake elections in the so-called DPR and LPR.

Petro Poroshenko underlined the importance of consultative assistance from the United Kingdom in the process of implementation of systemic reforms in Ukraine and noted the support for the European integration course of Ukraine, particularly in the issue of introduction of visa-free regime with the EU.

The Head of State informed that he had instructed the NSDC to withdraw BBC journalists from the list of sanctions against persons involved in the annexation of Crimea and aggression in Donbas. The President emphasized: “Freedom of the press is an absolute value for me”.

The parties also discussed the visit of the Ukrainian President to the United Kingdom that will take place shortly, as well as the meeting between the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom within the session of the UN General Assembly in New York in late September.

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