KYIV. Dec 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine will face political turbulence next year if foreign and internal policies of the state have not changed, Socialists Party Chairman, ex-Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara has said.

"Considerable political turbulence will continue in Ukraine next year. Moods of protest will be growing in the country with a high probability of a snap election scenario," he said at a briefing at Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

"If the government does not take steps to adjust both foreign and domestic courses, unfortunately, Ukraine will be facing an extremely tough period next year," he added.

The Socialists Party's chairman said the year 2016 was the failure for the Ukrainian authorities. In his words, many sectors of the economy along with some political issues are under external influence.

The former foreign minister explained that the delay in introducing visa-free travel for Ukrainian citizens in the EU along with issues related to European integration, in particular the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, demonstrates the failure of the foreign policy.

"Today Ukraine is on the brink of virtual collapse of state institutions with international recognition of Ukraine as a failed state. We do not see the incumbent government's intention to change the current course," Kozhara said.