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Ukrainian lawmaker calls Dutch referendum outcome "cold shower" for Kiev government

The Dutch Cabinet of Ministers has decided not to ratify Ukraine’s agreement of association with the European Union for now

KIEV, April 8. /TASS/. The outcome of Wednesday's referendum in the Netherlands where the majority of voters spoke against the ratification of an Association Agreement (AA) between the EU and Ukraine has had the effect of a cold shower on the heads of the Ukrainian authorities, Yevgeny Murayev, a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada representing the Opposition Bloc said on Thursday in a commentary on the results of the Dutch plebiscite.

"On April 6, Dutch citizens didn't support the AA between the EU and Ukraine and although the referendum has a consultative character, its outcome played the role of a cold shower on the heads of the bankrupt Ukrainian rulers," Murayev said. "Like people in other member-states of the EU, the Dutch are disillusioned with what's going on in Ukraine corruption scandals, the ruinous economic policy, and the war in Donbass that also brought grief to Dutch families in the form of the MH17 crash."

"All of these things have caused mistrust towards the Ukrainian authorities' actions," he said.

"But Ukraine's choice can't depend on referendums in other countries even if their results make our movement forward more complicated," Murayev said. "This country's success hinges on the assuring of national peace and guarantees of security for the entire Europe, on the efficiency of our economic policies, on development of democracy and self-governance, and on the elimination of corruption."

"The Opposition Bloc believes that only an early general election, the setting up of a national concord coalition, and a new policy of peace and development will pluck Ukraine out of the crisis and will enable it to rebuild the impaired credibility abroad," he said.