You're reading: Foreign Ministry says Kyiv’s focus on integration with Europe and partnership with Russia will remain unchanged

The latest reshuffle in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry will not impact the country's foreign policy, ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshyn told Interfax.

“The country’s foreign policy was determined by the president of
Ukraine bearing in mind the opinion of the majority of citizens. It
means that Ukraine will move gradually toward integration into Europe
and will simultaneously promote relations with Russia as partners and
based on the principle of equality,” he said.

This policy does not depend on the name of the foreign minister, Voloshyn said.

Kostiantyn Hryschenko was relieved of the foreign minister’s
responsibilities and was appointed to the post of deputy prime minister
on Monday.

Hryschenko was replaced by Party of Regions parliamentarian Leonid
Kozhara, most recently deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Foreign
Affairs Committee.

Both Kozhara and Hryschenko are committed to Ukraine’s integration into Europe, Voloshyn said.

“That is why I would not advise supporters of the geopolitical alternative to start to break out the champagne,” he said.