Germany, France urges Ukraine to implement more reforms, political stability

German Foreign Minister FrankWalter Steinmeier and his French counterpart JeanMarc Ayrault stressed on Tuesday that Ukraine must continue with implementing the reforms which brings it closer to Europe, and asked the country’s authorities to bring in political stability.

Both ministers held on Tuesday a joint press conference in Kiev after meetings on Monday and Tuesday with Ukraine’s main authorities, including President Petro Poroshenko and his Prime Minster Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Steinmeier said that Ukraine is struggling to reach the right political course, despite the great challenges ahead.

The French minister highlighted that Ukraine needs an effective government and parliament if it wants to continue on the path of reforms.

Ukraine is suffering from a political crisis since last week’s collapse of the parliamentary coalition which supports the cabinet of Yatsenyuk, after the Batkivshchyna group under former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko decided to exit the parliament, as well as the Samopomich (Self Reliance) party.

On Monday, Steinmeier stated in a meeting with Yatsenyuk that the European Union is ready to support Ukraine under the condition that the country’s authorities would guarantee a political stability within its territories.