The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko congratulated Frank-Walter Steinmeier with a confident victory in the presidential elections, which ended on 12 February 2017, reported on the official website of the Ukrainian President.

“During the tenure of the Minister of foreign Affairs of Germany You were a real friend of Ukraine. It is a reliable basis for the further development of friendship between our peoples already in Your new, presidential quality,” – said P. Poroshenko during a telephone conversation with Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The parties discussed the escalation in Russian aggression in Donbas and paid particular attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in the area of Avdeevka, where militants continue to fire at civilian objects and block access to Donetsk filtration station, which threatens the water supply of the whole region.

Poroshenko also expressed hope that in March of this year will be extended the so-called “Crimean package” of sanctions .

The parties noted the progress made between the EU Council, European Commission and European Parliament on visa-free regime for Ukrainians and expressed hope that this issue will be formalisierung in the near future.

P. Poroshenko invited Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit Ukraine for a visit.