Linas Linkevičius: relations with Ukraine continue to be an important Lithuanian foreign policy priority
On 26 April, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius, continued his visit in Kiev, Ukraine, and met with Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pavlo Klimkin. A day before, on 25 April, Linas Linkevičius had a meeting with President Petro Poroshenko, whose term as president is coming to an end.
“A democratic presidential election is a credit to the outgoing President and his team. Ukraine has successfully passed a test of democratic maturity. It is important that the forthcoming Verkhovna Rada election should be competitive, free and democratic, too,” Minister Linkevičius noted at the meeting with Petro Poroshenko.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister assured the Ukrainian President of consistent and on-going Lithuanian support for Ukraine’s pro-western course and implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. This is why the timing a visit to Ukraine was of particular importance – immediately after the presidential election.
Minister Linkevičius and Prime Minister Groysman discussed the results of Ukrainian reforms and remaining challenges and underscored the pace of reforms which should not be affected by elections in Ukraine. Linas Linkevičius believes that Ukrainian people deserve a Supreme Anti-Corruption Court, its soonest possible launch, and more rapid reforms in law enforcement and energy. “It is absolutely necessary to ensure a more rapid pace of reforms so that their results are felt by ordinary Ukrainian citizens,” Minister Linkevičius underlined.
At a meeting between the two foreign ministers, Linas Linkevičius and his Ukrainian counterpart talked about the most topical foreign policy issues, the approaching ten-year anniversary of the Eastern Partnership and its goals for the future. Both ministers noted that the Russian decision to grant citizenship to residents of the occupied eastern part of Ukraine under a simplified procedure was a gross violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and the Minsk Agreements. The Lithuanian Minister emphatically noted that Lithuania was going to continue urging the international community to take a proactive stance in protecting Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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