Poroshenko Says Kiev To Stick To Pro-West Policy As Long As He Remains President

KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2018) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Friday that as long as he was the head of state, Kiev would not give up on its pro-West policy.

"Since you have entrusted the position of the Ukrainian president to me, the state's compass has been steadily pointing to the West ... Its needle has never budged. And it will not budge as long as this compass is in my hands," Poroshenko said during a military parade in the capital of Kiev on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the countrys independence.

Poroshenko has been in power since 2014. While the presidential election in Ukraine is set to be held in March 2019, the incumbent has not officially announced his decision to seek re-election.

Kiev is aspiring to enhance ties with the European Union and NATO. In 2014, Ukraine dropped its non-aligned status, opening the door for potential NATO membership, and also signed the Association Agreement with the European Union. The agreement envisaged the establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Kiev and the bloc.

In June, Poroshenko voiced his hope that Ukraine would join the European Union and NATO by 2030.

However, despite Kiev's efforts, NATO officials have repeatedly stressed that Ukraine needed to implement a wide range of reforms before pursuing the alliances membership, and there is no clear prospect to join the European Union either.