2 Feb 2023 21:07

Ukraine expects extension of duty-free trade with EU for another 2 years - PM

MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - Ukraine expects to see significant progress in its integration into the European Union's market and to have duty-free trade with the EU extended until the end of 2024, which Prime Minister Denis Shmygal and Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko made understood at a meeting with European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the government's website on Thursday.

Integration with the EU's market and more profound trade relations with it are vitally important for Ukraine, Shmygal said.

"In particular, it's important to preserve duty-free imports of our goods to the European Union until the end of 2024," he said.

He thanked the EU for its substantial macro-financial assistance, including an 18-billion-euro support program for 2023, of which Ukraine has already received 3 billion euros.

"It's important for financing to be provided predictably and regularly. To this end, we have set up the so-called financial Ramstein platform," Shmygal said.

He also reiterated that Ukraine needs $17 billion in financing reconstruction work in its territory as early as this year and urged the EU to join these efforts.

Dombrovskis reaffirmed the EU's willingness to continue comprehensively supporting Ukraine.