OREANDA-NEWS. "In order to stabilize the economy, Ukraine needs additional financial aid, which should be developed by the International Monetary Fund, the European Union," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined at a briefing at Boryspil airport following the working visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Brussels.

The Prime Minister reminded that on December 15 the first meeting of the Association Council of Ukraine and the European Union was held: "This is one of the key governing bodies deciding how to implement the Agreement. It has been formed at the level of the European Commission and the Government of Ukraine."

"In the future, we will also launch a format of regular meetings between Ukraine and the European Commission to make it possible for every minister to meet with his/her counterpart - the European Commissioner," he said.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that on 15 December in the framework of the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Brussels was signed a \$ 200-million agreement on additional investment in the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transportation system: "This is one more step to allow the European Union to take the most active part in the modernization and operation of the Ukrainian gas transportation system."

Following the meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, the PM stressed, it was noted that Ukraine moved to the next phase of preparation for the liberalization of a visa regime with the EU: "We are waiting for the final assessment from our European partners of the second stage of a visa-free regime. We hope that a decision on visa-free regime will be taken in Riga, in May. At least the Ukrainian side is doing all for achieving this."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk separately focused on a stabilization package, or financial assistance to Ukraine. He stressed that the Government of Ukraine had "fully demonstrated its commitment to carrying out reforms": "Some reforms have been launched in the last nine months. That’s the reason why the International Monetary Fund gave us money, because there is no money without reforms. But the new Ukrainian Government should continue to carry out a significant part of these reforms."

"Everything offered in the Action Programme of the Cabinet of Ministers was supported by our European partners," he said and noted there were aired positive remarks by the Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini "regarding the content of the Action Programme of the Cabinet of Ministers and the steps that need to be taken".

Therefore, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, in order to stabilize the situation in Ukraine, "it is required a substantial financial assistance package", "We are not just asking for money. This year we have obtained \$ 9 billion of financial aid, which, by the way, we must pay off, and have given to our foreign creditors 14 billion dollars. However, in order to stabilize the economy, we need an additional package, which should be developed by the International Monetary Fund, the European Union".

"I officially appealed to the European Union with a request to be granted another macro-financial assistance project. At least, from the G7 countries. As no country can handle alone such amount of financial assistance we needed for Ukraine to settle the situation," said the Head of Government.

A final decision regarding the amount of the assistance, he said, "is in Washington, Brussels and other capitals of the G7, as they should take their own decisions concerning granting either loan guarantees or funding from their own budgets", "I emphasize again - the funding that we receive, we will pay off like we are doing this year. But it is in our mutual interest with the G7, the IMF and the European Union to build a history of success in Ukraine".

"Ukraine is an extremely attractive country to investors. We are now having a military conflict caused by Russia. But it will end. And we must prepare for the fact that not just international financial institutions will come to Ukraine, but private investors", said the Head of Government.

Moreover, Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed during his meeting in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg “there was clearly announced about a roadmap that is the basis for our bilateral relations between Ukraine and the Alliance, and four steps to ensure rapprochement with the Alliance". "First is adoption of the law, which abolishes the non-aligned status. Second is carrying out all necessary reforms to meet the criteria that you entered introduced in the NATO member countries. Third is referendum, which was contained at the time in a resolution of the Parliament. And fourth is a full - fledged membership in the Alliance, as was envisaged by the decision of the Bucharest summit in 2008, where there is a clear line that Ukraine will be a member of the North Atlantic Alliance", stressed the Prime Minister of Ukraine.