In five years we have made real steps and changes showing to every Ukrainian what our move to the United Europe means - Petro Poroshenko

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko emphasizes that Ukraine and the European Union have become closer than ever in the past five years. The Head of State is convinced that this success should become the basis for the further economic integration between the EU and the renewed Ukraine.

"Over the past five years, thanks to our effective work, Ukraine has made a huge step towards Europe. Conclusion and commencement of the Association Agreement, implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Almost two years ago, on June 11, 2017, the visa-free regime with the countries of the European Union was launched. Profound sectoral integration at the level of the economy and cultural ties, at the level of political and security cooperation, expansion of human contacts - all this forms the basis of the modern European Ukrainian state," Petro Poroshenko noted during a speech on Europe Day.

The Head of State is proud that during his presidency, Ukraine and the European Union have become closer than ever: "This is the realization of the aspirations with which Ukrainians started the Revolution of Dignity in 2013. They came out to declare - the future of Ukraine is in the European Union".

The President is grateful to the leaders of the European Union, both former and present, for their particular contribution to our shared story of success. He also thanked Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli "for the great energy and the part of the soul he gave to the Ukrainian people, to the Ukrainian land, to the formation of a European Ukraine".

The President is grateful to each of the 28 EU member states, but first of all to Germany and France, which actively participated in the Normandy format and helped us stop the Russian aggressor and secure a strong global solidarity with Ukraine.

"Over the past five years, we have made real steps, real changes that allowed every Ukrainian to feel and understand our move to the United Europe," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

He recalled that more than two and a half million citizens of Ukraine having a biometric passport had taken advantage of the visa-free regime, the right to visit the countries of the European Union freely.

"The visa-free regime has given a powerful impetus to the active development of transport links with Europe. More and more flight connections are opening. Today, the Boryspil airport has already exceeded 12 million passengers per year. We are restoring the airports that have not worked for years and even decades. Today, we have plans for the construction of new airports. The railway is being developed," the Head of State said, adding that he was surprised to find out from the CNN report that the Kyiv - Warsaw train of Ukrzaliznytsia is one of the best sleeping coaches in Europe.

"The functioning of the free trade area with the EU is very important, the trade turnover between Ukraine and the EU has grown more than two times. Last year we sold more goods to the European Union than ever before in our history. This year, the growth trend is firmly continuing. I believe that our success should become the basis for the further economic integration between the EU and the renewed Ukraine," he stressed.

The President said: "Today, the Ukrainian economy works in a clear unison with the European Union. Ukraine successfully cooperates with the European Energy Community ensuring the energy independence of our state. This means that the Ukrainian energy sector is already operating in synchrony with the European Union's energy system".