You're reading: EU leaders ready to support Ukraine in reform process

BRUSSELS - The European Council has congratulated Ukraine on its new government and welcomed its determination to carry out political and economic reforms, according the conclusions approved by the council on Dec. 18.

“Following the [European] Commission’s second disbursement in December of EUR 500 million in macro-financial assistance, the EU and its Member States stand ready to further facilitate and support Ukraine’s reform process, together with other donors and in line with IMF conditionality,” reads the document.

It notes that the situation in eastern Ukraine remains a strong concern. The leaders of the EU member states recalled that the European Union’s policy of not recognizing the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol had been further tightened on December 18.

“The European Council is ready to take further steps if necessary. All parties, including Russia, should actively engage in and implement fully the Minsk agreements. The European Council calls for unhindered access to the crash site of MH17 in the interest of the ongoing investigations,” read the conclusions.