Ukraine's future is in the European Union, former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has said.
"In my opinion, the future of Ukraine is in the EU," he said at a meeting of the diplomatic club organized by Arseniy Yatseniuk’s Open Ukraine charitable foundation in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Verhofstadt described the creation of a free trade area with the EU as very important and added that Ukraine should move in this direction.
"I believe in the free trade area and the liberalization of the visa regime, rather than in any customs unions," he said.
He also noted that three main aspects were currently important on Ukraine’s pathway to EU integration. The European Parliament, in its resolution on the situation in Ukraine, expressed concern about the evolution of political and democratic processes in Ukraine, he said.
The Belgian politician said that Ukraine should focus its attention on the negotiation process on the creation of a free trade area, as, in his opinion, it is one of the ways of preparing for EU membership.
The liberalization of the visa regime is also an important area, he added.
