Implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union will allow building a modern, democratic, and European Ukraine.
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said this at the meetings with the leadership of the two houses of the Parliament of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Khadija Arib and Anne Flierman, as well as members of foreign affairs committees of the two parliamentary houses.
Groysman noted that the Revolution of Dignity that took place in Ukraine two years ago was a result of a refusal of then leadership to sign this Agreement. The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada noted that the new authorities elected after the Revolution of Dignity signed the Association Agreement and are currently "following the provisions of that Agreement."
Groysman said that inter alia the document envisions holding of reforms in Ukraine to turn a post-Soviet country into a European state.
Groysman noted that Ukraine continues reforms in conditions of the aggression in Donbas and occupation of Crimea. He said that the problem of corruption was an internal challenge for Ukraine. At that Groysman highlighted the progress on the way to overcoming that problem. In particular, he drew attention to the fact that the Verkhovna Rada had taken decisions "having created comprehensive mechanisms to combat corruption" and is realizing the judicial reform.
The participants in the meeting touched the issue of the Russian aggression against Ukraine as well as the course of implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament noted that Ukraine implement the Minsk agreement, in particular, takes decisions it envisions.
At the same time, Groysman noted that "every day Russian mercenaries with Russian weapons in their hands fire upon the Ukrainian territory." He noted that Ukraine remains a peaceful and democratic country. The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said Russia must fulfill its obligations within the framework of the Minsk agreements.
The participants in the meetings also advocated the enhancement of the interparliamentary cooperation between the two states.