President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a meeting with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström.

The Head of State informed the European Commissioner on the development of economic situation in Ukraine, the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements and the recent decisions made by the Ukrainian Parliament on the adoption of the package of anti-corruption and anti-discrimination legislation, which promotes the establishment of the visa-free regime with the EU for Ukrainian citizens.

The President hopes for the positive conclusion by the assessment mission of the European Commission on the readiness of Ukraine to the introduction of the visa-free regime with the EU.

According to the Head of State, the FTA with the EU that will start functioning on January 1, 2016, will bring trade-economic relations between Ukraine and the EU countries to the new level and facilitate further development of the Ukrainian economy.

The President noted that the share of Russia in the overall volume of foreign trade of Ukraine had been reduced substantially – to 16%. At the same time, over 37% of foreign trade operations of Ukraine falls on the EU Member States.

The Head of State expressed concern over the intention of Russia to introduce embargo on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products and foodstuffs, as well as tariffs on products from Ukraine on January 1, 2016. "We have to be ready for the economic consequences, as Russia resorts not only to the occupation of sovereign and independent Ukraine, but also to the trade war against us," Petro Poroshenko said.

The parties stressed that the Ukrainian exports to the EU had significant potential. The President of Ukraine appealed to the EU Commissioner for Trade to support Ukrainian exports to the EU, in particular through the provision of increased access to the EU market for the Ukrainian products.

The interlocutors discussed the provision of the EU’s second tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. “We have already fulfilled a series of our obligations and make every effort to fulfill the remaining obligations required for receiving the assistance from the EU as soon as possible,” the President stressed.

European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström noted recent achievements of Ukraine in terms of reforms and tremendous efforts of the President on preservation of unity of coalition in the voting for the laws necessary for the introduction of the visa-free regime with the EU.