Poroshenko reminds EU of new Kremlin crimes

During the meeting, the president and the representatives of the Political and Security Committee discussed the security situation in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine, the results of the meeting of the foreign ministers in the Normandy format, the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements, as well as the prospects for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the press service of the head of state reported.

The head of state thanked the PSC’s delegation for the visit to Ukraine to examine the real situation in Donbas. Such visit is of particular importance in the light of the next revision of EU sanctions against Russia in June and July of this year and preparations for the 20th Ukraine-EU Summit in Brussels on July 9, 2018.

The Ukrainian president drew much attention to the situation in the occupied Crimea, in particular, in the context of Russia's construction of a bridge and blocking of part of the Azov Sea for Ukrainian ships, the release of Ukrainian hostages and political prisoners.

The president urged the EU member states to increase pressure on the Kremlin for the speedy release of Ukrainian political prisoners and hostages.

The representatives of the EU member states noted Ukraine's progress towards the implementation of reforms and the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, and also confirmed the continued support of the European Union for Ukraine’s European aspirations and territorial integrity.

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