Slap in the face of Poroshenko: the EU has linked the visa-free regime with the implementation of the Minsk agreements

The European Union has once again postponed the provision of a visa-free regime to Ukraine, putting forward a new requirement - linking it to the implementation of the Minsk agreements by Kiev. This became known today during a debate in the Verkhovna Rada, where a vote took place to appeal to the EU on the need to abolish visas.

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According to the author of the resolution, Speaker Andriy Parubiy, Ukraine has fulfilled all 144 EU requirements, but a visa-free regime has not yet been received.

“Few countries had such a list. We have fulfilled these requirements, and the Ukrainian parliament has set an example of how one can be responsible in their international obligations. In the coming days there will be the anniversary of the “revolution of dignity”. Then, in fact, people came to the Maidan because the previous government stopped European integration. We walked out holding the flag of Ukraine and the European Union in our hands. Euromaidan - that was the name of our Maidan. For these values, the “heavenly hundred” died, for these values ​​we have been waging a war against the Russian occupier and aggressor for three years. Thousands of our soldiers died defending not only Ukraine, but defending the European Union and the entire free world from Russian aggression. Tell me, what other state paid such a high price for its European choice with the lives of our best sons and daughters?” - said Parubiy.

“Nobody warned us that there would be any additional requirements after Ukraine fulfilled all its 144 points. We must remind our colleagues that they too must be responsible and reliable partners,” he added.

He was supported by Vice Speaker Irina Gerashchenko. She said with a tear in her voice that EU countries should follow the example of Ukrainians who are dying “for European values.”

“Ukrainian guys are dying today defending European values ​​and proving that Ukraine is an important part of Europe. The European Union needs Ukraine today... there can be no double standards for Ukraine,” Gerashchenko said.

Gerashchenko’s parliamentary colleague, Leonid Yemets, doubted that the Rada’s appeals would help obtain a visa-free regime. According to him, the European Parliament tied the abolition of visas to the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

“It reminds me of a situation when we were invited to a large European house, they just say,“ when you come in, please wipe your feet. ” Sorry, we have already wiped it off once, another, we have already changed our shoes, changed our slippers, but we still stand in front of closed doors, knock and say - well, open it, we have already done everything that you demanded of us!

Mr Schulz, the head of the European Parliament, once again said yesterday that they were waiting for us there. But do you know what alarmed me? What was the link to the Minsk agreements.

Sorry, as a member of PACE and a European bureaucrat, I cannot understand how the Minsk agreements can be part of our European integration! This is neither factually nor legally a document!” – Yemets was indignant.

Then he turned to an ultimatum.

“We have fulfilled our part of the requirements stipulated by this agreement. Now it’s up to you, dear representatives and bureaucrats of the European Union. If you are unable to fulfill your obligations, then, excuse me, neither you, nor we, nor the members and citizens of the European community need such a Europe,” Yemets said.

And the leader of the “Radical Party” Oleg Lyashko staged a performance at the Rada podium - he handed over his diplomatic passport and called on all his colleagues to follow their example until the EU gives a visa-free regime.

“While there is no visa-free regime for all Ukrainians, each of you must hand over your diplomatic passport. There is no point in traveling with your mistresses through connections based on a green book. Stand in the queues of diplomatic missions, experience the same torture as ordinary Ukrainians experience, pay grandma for visas... We demand that Europe fulfill its obligations to the Ukrainians,” said Lyashko, after which he gave the green book to Speaker Parubiy.

However, the performance put on by Lyashko was immediately seen through by the Minister of Social Policy Pavel Rozenko, who wrote in his blog that the people’s deputy should not have a diplomatic passport in his hands: “According to the regulations on the diplomatic passport, he must return it to the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada immediately after the trip.” .