Head of the European Union's Delegation to Ukraine Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira has said that the EU will not take any sanctions against the citizens of Ukraine in connection with the internal situation in the country.
"Regarding any sanctions against the Ukrainian people, I do not think they are possible. Ukrainians are not responsible for the individual acts of their authorities," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
While commenting on the possible tightening of the visa requirements for Ukrainians, the diplomat said that this would not happen.
"The EU has signed a visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine, and we are observing and implementing it. We are waiting for the end of this year, when the statistics on issuing Schengen visas to Ukrainians will be released, and this would be the best way to show whether those events that are currently unfolding in Ukraine in any way affect the issuing of visas. I'm convinced that all EU countries that issue visas are performing their duties in the same way as before," Teixeira said.
With regard to the relaxation of visa requirements for Ukrainians, the diplomat believes that it depends on Ukraine's meeting certain conditions.
"This process is ongoing, everything is being done in order to give Ukrainians the opportunity to visit EU states, to develop interpersonal communication, and we hope that over time more and more Ukrainians go to the EU. As for the abolition of visas for Ukrainian citizens, it is currently impossible for very specific and substantial reasons," he said.
According to Teixeira, it is clear that Ukrainians should support the European choice of their country and strive to become a real European country not only geographically. The diplomat said that he meant the declarations of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to create "Europe in Ukraine."
