You're reading: Ukraine to get visa-free travel, free trade zone with EU in a year

President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych believes that Ukraine will enjoy visa-free regime and free trade zone with the EU no later than in a year.

The head of state said this in an exclusive interview with the BBC Ukrainian service in Brussels.

Asked about the possibility of Ukraine’s getting an associate membership, visa-free regime and forming a free trade zone with the EU, Yanukovych said: "We have agreed that we will settle this issue within a year, and a joint decision, joint implementation of this decision will lead us to the goal we have set. We will get a visa-free regime and a free trade zone with the European Union no later than in a year."

When asked to comment on the European Parliament’s resolution securing Ukraine’s right to apply for EU membership, the president said: "I believe that Ukraine should come a long way of reforms, and only then we will see the timeframes when it may happen. Today we have received a signal, which gives us a great hope. And now we have to be working hard. "