Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton at the end of her visit to Ukraine

EU News 81/2014

Kyiv, 25 February 2014
140225/01

"I am back in Kyiv, for what is the fourth time in less than three months. And as you will have seen, I have been here meeting with a whole variety of people. In the Rada I have met the Speaker, leaders of Party of Regions, leaders of new majority parties, acting Finance minister, this morning also with Yulia Tymoshenko and as always civil society representatives. Some of them I've met on previous occasions as well.

(...)

My message to all of them has been: you need to work together. There are some short term challenges that need to be faced and addressed and there are some longer-term plans that need to be put in place. But you need to work together and you need recognise the importance of public accountability for everything that you do and to build into your thinking how you will ensure that you are open and transparent and respond to what the people want.

We expect to see a new government soon. Of course that needs to be inclusive and it needs to have the expertise that will be so necessary. And it needs to have both lasting political solutions and a credible economic plan. It's very important that the situation is calm and that we see law and order restored everywhere. You know that I've said many times that there needs to be independent investigation into the violence that's happened and we're supporting very much the Council of Europe and Secretary Jagland's work in that direction.

We've come as well to make sure that we offer the support, not interference, support for the future. It's very crucial that, especially on areas to do with the Interior Ministry, with the security situation, that we are able to provide and offer the support that's needed. That means the kind of expertise that may help to ensure that the full operation of the justice systems, and the operation of the police, can provide security for people.

(...)

I want to also make an obvious point, which is the importance of the strong links between Ukraine and Russia and the importance that these are maintained. I'm in regular contact with Russia. I spoke recently with the Foreign Minister Lavrov. We know and understand the strong trade links that have existed with Russia and the strong links that need to exist with Russia in the future. And that message needs to be widely understood.

We also think it's very important to send a strong message about the territorial integrity and the unity and the independence of Ukraine. Everyone I've spoken to here recognises the importance of this country sticking together.

But we also know that there are big financial and economic challenges in the days, weeks and months ahead and I've been very much engaged with that; talking with our international partners, thinking about the short-term, the medium and the long-term. And looking and identifying ways in which we can bring together people to support the economic challenges the country faces.

Source and additional information:
http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140225_01_en.pdf

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