UK Europe minister Lidington: UK will support Ukraine in aspirations for integrity and independence
The British government is ready to continue support of Ukraine in its aspirations for integrity as an independent state, Minister for European Affairs of the British Foreign Office David Lidington said.
The United Kingdom has taken a strong position in advocating the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, he said at a press conference in Dnipropetrovsk on Wednesday.
Nowadays Ukraine is facing huge challenges both in the east of the country and in the sphere of economy. Signing an Association Agreement with the EU and an agreement on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area is a platform for creating an economically strong state, he said. The British government is ready to continue working with the government of Ukraine closely to achieve these goals, but the main role belongs to the Ukrainian government, which should act decisively," he said.
He also expressed hope that hostilities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions would end in the near future.
The minister said that the United Kingdom regularly provides technical assistance to Ukraine in different fields, including current assistance in judicial reform. What is more, an ad hoc commission was set up in the United Kingdom, which has been drawing up a law enforcement reform program on the basis of European countries' experience, and the program will be offered to Ukraine soon.
The United Kingdom is also establishing contacts with the regions of Ukraine, namely under educational programs, the minister said.
