On March 17 Acting Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Deshchytsia attended the meeting in the format "Ukraine + group of friends of Ukraine in the EU" at the level of EU foreign ministers.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informed the EU side on the situation in the Crimea (Ukraine). He stressed the inadmissibility of military aggression of Russia, based on total disinformation and artificially pumped by Russian officials and media. The parties unconditionally condemned the so-called Crimean referendum on March 16, which was held against the Ukrainian legislation and international law.

Participants discussed further decisive actions to prevent implementation of the results of the regarded referendum and de-escalation of the situation in this region of Ukraine .

A.Deshchytsia confirmed that the new Ukrainian government is commited to implement systemic reforms and to sign the Association Agreement with the EU as soon as possible. He also commended the decision to provide Ukraine with ambitious package of financial assistance.