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Poroshenko called the abolition of EU visas for Ukrainians a “final divorce” from Russia
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that after the EU Council approved a visa-free regime for Ukrainians, the country "finally formalized its divorce from the Russian Empire." Interfax-Ukraine reports this with reference to the 1+1 TV channel.
“This is how we should philosophically perceive it,” he said.
“We are talking not only and not so much about visa-free border crossing, we are talking about returning Ukraine to its historical place among European countries,” the president said.
- On May 11, the EU Council approved the introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine. The document is to be signed by the leadership of the European Parliament and the EU. The decision will enter into force 20 days after publication in the official journal of the union.
- Citizens of Ukraine with biometric passports will be able to travel without a visa to the EU countries (except the UK and Ireland) for business, tourism and personal purposes. They will be able to stay in the EU without a visa for 90 days within six months.
- Petro Poroshenko has previously associated the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukrainians in the EU with Ukraine's break with Russia. He called this innovation, in particular, the "Rubicon", associated with the "departure from the Russian Empire" and "return to the European cradle."