Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he hopes that the decision on the creation of a pan-European Russian-language channel as a source of objective information could be made at the Riga summit in May 2015.

"The sides [Poroshenko and Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics] paid special attention to the need for joint efforts to counter Russian information propaganda. Poroshenko stressed the importance of the practical implementation of the initiative by a number of EU countries and Ukraine on the introduction of a pan-European Russian-language channel as a source of objective information. The head of state said that the decision to create such a channel could be another practical result of the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga," the presidential press service reported the results of Poroshenko's meeting with Rinkevics in Kyiv on Saturday.

Poroshenko thanked Latvia for its continued support for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and expressed hope for the success of the Eastern Partnership summit, which is to be held in Riga in May. Poroshenko said that Ukraine was successfully implementing the second phase of the action plan on visa liberalization, in particular, introducing biometric passports.

"Ukrainians have high hopes for the introduction of the visa-free regime of travel to the EU as the practical result of the Riga summit. It will be very symbolic," he said.

He also added: "The only way to de-escalate the situation in Donbas is the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Unfortunately, this does not happen, because the Ukrainian-Russian border remains open for the supply of military equipment, and the ceasefire is being constantly violated by militants."

Rinkevics, in turn, said that his country had "adopted and will adopt a very strong position on the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as on the non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea."

"Edgars Rinkevics stressed the importance of coordinating the efforts of European diplomacy to support Ukraine and unity ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The minister also said that now the European Union was actively working to understand what kind of assistance Ukraine needs and what is needed to strengthen the competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy," the press service reported.

In addition, the sides discussed the issue of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine and additional opportunities for its allocation by the EU.

"Petro Poroshenko and Edgars Rinkevics agreed to deepen cooperation at a bilateral level, in particular, in the field of education. Thus, in the near future 15 Ukrainian students will receive scholarships to study in Latvia. Riga is also ready to provide practical assistance to Ukraine in the exchange of experience of reform, standardization and implementation of a free trade area between the EU and Ukraine," reads the statement.