President Petro Poroshenko has held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn.

Petro Poroshenko congratulated Jean Asselborn on Luxembourg's presidency in the EU Council starting from July 1, 2015. The President considers the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg one of the most experienced politicians in Europe. In the course of the meeting, the parties discussed the EU-Ukraine agenda for the next 6 months.

The President has emphasized the important role of Luxembourg in supporting Ukraine since the beginning of negotiations on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and its strong pro-Ukrainian position in the UN Security Council and the European Council regarding the prolongation of sanctions against Russia in response to the aggression in Donbas and the annexation of Crimea.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine strictly observes the Minsk agreements. He emphasized the importance of solidarity and unified position of the EU and leading democratic countries of the world in support of Ukraine.

In the course of the discussion, Petro Poroshenko recalled yesterday's PACE statement that the actions of Russia against Ukraine are an aggression and the invasion of Crimea is an occupation, which is a great danger to the European and global security.

In his turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg informed the President on plans of Luxembourg during the presidency in the EU Council. He particularly emphasized the importance of maintaining solidarity of the EU on Ukraine, implementing decisions of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, bringing into effect free trade area and completing ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.

Jean Asselborn emphasized that the EU sanctions against Russia directly depend on the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements by it, inter alia, termination of arms supply to Donbas.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg assured the President that EU-Ukraine relations are based on common values, full understanding and support for Ukraine, which is an extremely important country for the EU and has close historic ties with the EU member-states.

Jean Asselborn praised the process of reforms in Ukraine, including constitutional amendments that have been positively evaluated by the Venice Commission.

The parties also discussed the perspective of visa-free regime for Ukrainians. The President noted that Ukraine has a clear action plan on that issue and it will be implemented in time.

The interlocutors negotiated prospects of bilateral relations between the countries.