The introduction of biometric passports for Ukrainian citizens travelling abroad is a final step on the way to a visa free regime with European Union member states, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.”This is the last step, which the EU is waiting for from Ukraine to grant us a visa free regime,” the president said on January 12, whilst visiting a service center which will issue the passports.
He expressed hope that the decision to introduce a visa free regime between Ukraine and EU countries would be taken in May 2015 at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga.Poroshenko said that, after talks with the Latvian foreign minister, there was an agreement to put this issue on summit’s agenda.According to the president, about 30,000 passports are to be issued in May, and over 200,000 in April.While visiting the service centre, the president received a biometric passport, which can be seen on his website.
