Poroshenko: Reforms to achieve European standards should start immediately

09:18, 24.11.2014 1 min read

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that reforms aimed at achieving the European standards of living should be implemented immediately.

"Reforms should start immediately. Their goal is to gradually achieve the European standards of living, so that in 2020 we could apply for a membership in the European Union. This is what the draft coalition agreement is about," the head of state said in his address on the occasion of the Day of Freedom and Dignity, published on the president's website on Friday evening.

He recalled that Ukraine had signed, ratified and had already begun to implement the Association Agreement with the EU. "Do you think this happened automatically? Our diplomats and I had to put a lot of effort to overcome the pressure and blackmail from the East, to dispel some of the doubts and hesitations in the West," Poroshenko said.