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Ukraine cannot get visa-free regime with EU as Donbas conflict rages — source

"It is impossible to lift visa requirements for the country where an armed conflict is ongoing on a huge part of the border, and its territory is not within any border control," the source said

RIGA, May 22. /TASS/. The visa-free regime with the EU is now impossible for Ukraine and this can only happen when the conflict in Donbas ends or at least is fully frozen, a source in the delegation of an EU country at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, Latvia, said on Friday.

"It is impossible to lift visa requirements for the country where an armed conflict is ongoing on a huge part of the border, and its territory is not within any border control. Therefore, the conflict should either end or at least become fully frozen," the source stressed.

"The decision-making process in the EU bodies needs to be understood in a right way," the source said commenting on the formal criteria for the European Commission to issue recommendations for lifting visa requirements with a country.

In November, the European Commission, the executive arm of the Union, should analyze progress made by Ukraine and Georgia towards implementing their visa liberalization action plans (VLAP).

These are official documents based on technical demands for introducing biometrics in passports, norms of visa and border legislation, readmission principles for citizens expelled from the EU and also the necessary efforts of Ukraine on carrying out reforms, enhancing legal rules and fulfilling the rule of law.

"If Ukraine and Georgia show the necessary zeal, the European Commission may give a positive recommendation, but then the decision should be approved by all the 28 EU member-states in the EU Council," the source said.

However, it is impossible to expect that all the EU countries will agree to introduce visa-free regime with a country where there is an armed conflict and a vulnerable border, he explained.