Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who is now on a working visit to Vilnius, Lithuania, on Dec. 2, has met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius to discuss bilateral economic and political cooperation.
Poroshenko thanked Lithuania for the consistent and firm support of Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression and the occupation of Crimea, the presidential press service reported. He noted the importance of maintaining EU sanctions against Russia until the full implementation of the Minsk peace agreements and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the presidential press service reported.
The Ukrainian president thanked for the humanitarian assistance provided by Lithuania to Ukraine and practical facilitation in the implementation of the reforms related to European integration.
“Special attention was paid to boosting trade and economic cooperation, development of joint projects in the spheres of transport, energy, agriculture. The parties coordinated future steps of the two countries pending the launch of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU as of Jan. 1, 2016. Ukraine is going to create a group to study Lithuania’s experience in promoting its goods onto the European markets,” the presidential administration said.
Poroshenko and Butkevicius also discussed prospects for building new gas pipelines that could supply gas to Ukraine from Klaipeda’s LNG terminal. “In this context, the president submitted proposal on participation of Ukrainian companies in the construction of the GIPL pipeline between Lithuania and Poland,” the press service said.
What is more, the parties considered opportunities of further bilateral exchange in the spheres of culture and education, and the implementation of new humanitarian projects.
