Postponement of the launch of a comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the European Union from 1 January 2016 to a later date is out of the question, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page.
"A deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the European Union will enter into force on 1 January 2016," Poroshenko wrote.
As reported, the Ukrainian parliament ratified the text of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on 16 September 2014, which is exactly one year ago. At the time, 355 parliamentary deputies (out of 381) voted in favor of the relevant decision, zero voted against, and zero abstained. Twenty-six parliamentary deputies did not participate in the vote.
The document will take full effect after all the 28 member states of the European Union ratify it. Application of a number of the provisions of the agreement on free trade area was postponed for a year - until 31 December 2015 - due to pressure from Russia. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Cyprus have not yet ratified the agreement.
