Ukraine counts on Germany in countering Russian aggression and rapprochement with EU – Poroshenko

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with a delegation of the German Bundestag Committee on the Affairs of the European Union led by its Chairman Gunther Krichbaum while German parliamentarians were visiting Ukraine.

"The head of state has expressed his gratitude for the Bundestag's close attention to the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas and for the support of Ukraine in countering Russian aggression, and restoration of its territorial integrity," the presidential press service said on Tuesday night.

At the same time, Poroshenko emphasized the need to continue sanctions against the aggressor, the source said.

"Sanctions are an effective mechanism to induce Russia to fulfill the Minsk agreements," the president was quoted as saying.

Poroshenko welcomed the results of his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on February 1, 2016. He said they "confirmed the common vision of the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the extension of sanctions."

In their turn, representatives of the German Bundestag confirmed that sanctions were "working". The head of the German delegation, Gunther Krichbaum, added that "Ukraine may count on Germany's full support." Krichbaum also assured that sanctions would remain in force until Russia fulfilled the Minsk agreements.

During the meeting Poroshenko also stressed the importance of introducing the visa-free regime with the EU for Ukrainian citizens. Besides, in the context of the energy cooperation the president noted that Ukraine "counted on the EU's solidarity regarding Nord Stream 2 project".