There is every reason to talk about the recovery of the Ukrainian economy, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"A year and a half ago the economic situation in Ukraine was so dire that we could only dream about macroeconomic stabilization. Now we have all grounds to say that economic recovery is in place," he said at the general debate of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 20.

He noted that Ukraine was fully committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Despite heavy defense expenses more than 5% of its GDP, Ukraine keeps going through fundamental transformations – fighting corruption, promoting judicial reforms, implementing decentralization, improving business opportunities," Poroshenko said.

He said that such areas as ensuring sustainable energy supply, food security, promoting innovation development and sustainable infrastructure, as well as promoting an effective public health system, affordable education and decent work, were among priorities within the 2030 UN Development Agenda in Ukraine.

"I am convinced that no country alone can achieve sustainable development without sustainable peace and security. That is why strengthening peace and promoting security should be the driving and unifying force of our joint efforts aimed to achieve the goals of sustainable development," Poroshenko said.