On
Saturday, August 23, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with
Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, who arrived to Ukraine on a visit
on the eve of the Independence Day.
The PM
discussed with the Federal Chancellor issues of stabilization of the situation
in the East of Ukraine and the restoring of the areas that suffered from the
actions of Russia-backed terrorists. Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Angela Merkel
stressed the importance of a strong consolidated response of the European Union
to Russian aggression and the Kremlin's attempts to destabilize the political
and economic situation in Ukraine.
The Prime
Minister of Ukraine noted the European choice of the Ukrainian people is
invariable and in this context he confirmed the importance to ratify by the Verkhovna Rada of the Association
Agreement with the European Union in September. "We agreed to hold
technical consultations with the Russian side regarding the implementation of
the Agreement in the section of introduction of a free trade area with the EU,
however we have not heard from Russia any convincing arguments concerning the
consequences for the Russian economy," said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Moreover,
the PM discussed with the Federal Chancellor of Germany energy security issues.
"Ukraine will welcome the participation of the German energy corporations
in the development of Ukrainian energy infrastructure", - said the Prime
Minister.
Arseniy
Yatsenyuk also expressed satisfaction with the decision of the German government
to allocate additional funds for the social needs of people who became victims
of the hostilities of Russia-supported militants.
The Prime
Minister also considered with Angela Merkel the practical aspects of use of the
announced today assistance to Ukraine in the amount of Eur
500 million.