The ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU is a birth of a new European state, it shall certainly be followed by Ukraine joining the EU, reckons Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.
“Today is a historic day. The ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU is saying goodbye to the post-Soviet Ukraine and giving birth to the new European state”, - commented Pavlo Klimkin to the “INTERFAX-UKRAINE’ agency on Tuesday.
According to him, the path to this event up to now was extremely complicated and tragic.
“Due to the toughness of our pro-European position, in the course of the past several months we have proved that Ukraine’s government is devoted to the spirit and the letter of the Agreement, to each and every of its provisions, and is ready to protect the Agreement from any foray”, - said Pavlo Klimkin.
The Minister assured that the stipulated by the Agreement European reforms are the top-priority for Ukraine’s government.
“After the ratification no internal or external power could influence Ukraine’s European path towards implementing the reforms. Everything now depends on ourselves”, - underlined the Minister.
Pavlo Klimkin is certain that the EU “supports our efforts, and we are really welcomed there”.
“The proof of this is not only the synchronous ratification of the Agreement by the Verkhovna Rada and the European Parliament, but also the concrete messages and actions of our European partners”, - he said.
“I personally am persuaded that everything will be good and this Agreement shall be followed by the next one – an Agreement on Ukraine’s accession to the EU”, summarized Ukraine’s Foreign Minister.

Unofficial translation from Russian (via the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States)