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Russian diplomat says EU decision on visa-free travel with Ukraine 'of provisional nature'

A diplomat expects the EU will demand Ukraine take a number of steps on the implementation of the plan

© Vitaly Grabar/ITAR-TASS

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EU states give conditional approval to visa-free travel for Ukraine

GOMEL, November 21. /TASS/. The European Union’s decision on visa-free travel with Ukraine preliminarily agreed by the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives is a provisional step, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told TASS on Monday.

"So far, this decision is provisional," he said. "They will demand Ukraine take very concrete measures on the implementation of their plan of transition to visa-free travel."

"Just for reference, Georgia has been in a state of waiting for six years, implementing the European Union’s plan," Karasin noted.

Earlier, European Union states gave conditional approval to visa-free travel for Ukraine. However, the implementation of visa-free travel for Ukrainians coming to the European Union could only take place once the bloc beefs up its mechanism to suspend visa-free agreements, the EU Council said in a statement.

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