EU may finance Ukrainian reforms, but not Ukrainian debts, says Tombinski

14:06, 17.11.2013 1 min read

The European Union may provide financial assistance to Ukraine, if the country holds reforms, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski has said.

"If we are talking about financial assistance, it should be designed to support reforms in Ukraine. Ukraine should initiate certain reforms. This means that the financial assistance may come when there will be processes in the Ukrainian economy, which ultimately will make it more resilient to crises and stronger," Tombinski said in an interview with BBC Ukraine on Saturday.

The EU for many years has been allocating funds to assist Ukraine in implementing reforms in different sectors, the diplomat said.

"This assistance is already present, but it does not mean that someone should pay the debts of Ukraine. If money is attracted, it should be attracted with the understanding that in the future it will help to improve and strengthen the Ukrainian economy. The meaning of the association is not to 'buy' Ukraine, but to help it to become a better country, to invest in Ukraine, to be its partner, and not to buy it," Tombinski said.