What a great day. Maybe most important day for my country, after the independence day,
a moment that is both historical and future oriented, it shows how dramatically things
can change in a short time if the will of the people is strong enough. I will sign the
Association Agreement by the pen which mentions "EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Vilnius
29 November 2013" which not happened then, but the pen is the same., demonstrating that
historic events are unavoidable. The documents that we will sign today is not just political
and economic, it is a symbol of faith and of unbreakable will. It is a tribute to people
who gave their life and health to make this moment happen. And it is the strongest reminder
of what today's Europe must be about. People's determination to live in a better world.
With this in mind, I congratulate each and everyone of us, it took Ukraine seven long years to
walk the road towards the political association and economic integration with EU. This road saw
ups and downs but today we are finally here. All Ukraine, including Crimea, starting
to be a member of Association Agreement with EU. Dear friends, an united Europe is an all
nations interest, yet this doesn't mean it has no opponents, there have been many efforts
to undermine the European unification project, like they did in Ukraine throughout the last months.
First and foremost, the success
of freedom and democracy in the post-soviet space it will depend on the ability of these
three countries to implement necessary reform stipulated by the agreement. Of course, all
of us, would have wished to sign the agreements under more comfortable circumstances, on the
other hand, the external aggression faced by Ukraine gives another strong reason for
this crucial step. by signing this agreement, Ukraine takes enormous commitment in terms
of reform, but it is a document of joint ownership and responsibility, so in the spirit of political
association, we also expect that European Union to put an effort in to support our sovereign
choice and protect Ukraine independence and territorial integrity, but it also depend
on Europe solidarity with these three countries that paid a high price to be in Europe and
with Europe. Will Europe be free or partly free, will it have to worry about more war
an annexation or it will be confident in future. The answer will depend on the success or failure
of the documents we'll sign today. Ukraine is determined to make it work. Our three countries
embark on a way of painful and long overdue reform. Economic integration and political
association with European Union, that is our understanding of successful development, to
make it work. We are ready to proceed with the ratification as soon as possible. We do
hope ratification in EU capitals will ensure promptly. Ukraine paid the highest possible
price to make European dreams come true. It must be worth something. For instance, to
finally concede a simple statement of the part of the EU, once the Ukraine will be ready,
it will be in. A statement that will cost EU nothing, but would mean to world of my
country. Therefore I would like to make an unilateral declaration by signing the agreement
with EU, Ukraine, as an European state sharing common values of democracy and rule of law
is underlining its sovereign choice in favor of future membership in EU in accordance with
article 49 of EU treaty. The AA is conceded by Ukraine as an instrument of comprehensive
preparation to the achievement of this goal. The EU is not a club of exclusive rich nations.
The EU is an idea, the right answer for Europe, and today we all - EU and non-EU - made an
important step to turn this idea to the reality.
I thank all of you. Dear Presidents, dear Heads of Government, dear President of the
Commission, dear President of the Council, dear Commissioners, Commissioner Fule,Commissioner
De Gucht, all of the Commissioners, because this is the result of our joint efforts which
reached today a very important delivery to the people of Ukraine and the people of the
European Union.