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Ukraine’s PM says development of Ukrainian-Russian border step towards NATO

Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk (right) Konstantin Cherginskiy/TASS

Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk (right)

© Konstantin Cherginskiy/TASS

KIEV, October 16. /TASS/. Installation of engineering facilities on the Ukrainian-Russian border is a serious step towards establishing a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU, Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said on Wednesday in an interview with the ‘24’ television channel.

“We’re seeking visa-free traveling with the EU and European partners are awaiting a number of solutions from us and one of them is development of the border with Russia,” he said.

He claimed that completion of fortifications in the framework of The Wall border project would speed up Ukraine’s integration in NATO. “That’s to say nothing of NATO membership because a state that doesn’t control its border can’t be a member of a defence bloc.”

Yatsenyuk said international partners were helping Kiev to build fortifications on the border with Russia and they would allocate gratuitously $ 38.5 million. Of that amount, Kiev had already received $ 18 million.

“These monies will be used to purchase metal gauze from a Ukrainian manufacturer, who will be determined through a bidding contest,” he said.

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