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Andrej Plenković, Chairman of the Parliamentary Association Committee EU – Ukraine, sat with UNIAN to talk about the problems and prospects of cooperation with Ukraine in 2016 as well as about the fulfillment of existing obligations by the Ukrainian authorities and the prospects for a visa-free regime for Ukrainians.  

Ukraine's political elite seems to have totally floated away from reality. Putting the word “reform” on an indefinite loop, which has long become annoying, the authorities stepped on a quicksand of “reformatting” the Coalition and the Cabinet.

After returning to a plenary mode, the parliamentary coalition has been seeking intensively the ways to reformat the government. The prime minister has publically expressed hope to retain his post.

0% of the population controlled by Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions would like to live in the so-called "LPR" and "DPR," five fugitive Ukrainian ex-officials got their claims satisfied in court in the EU regarding the freeze of their assets, 177 deputies, including those who are in fact millionaires received compensation from the budget for accommodation in the capital city of Kyiv.

Russian officials showed some extraordinary cynicism toward Ukraine at the international level. Boris Gryzlov tried unsuccessfully to impose new rules of the game during the Minsk talks. PACE had a rather productive session without the Russian delegation. Poland heard a number of unexpected political statements.

The advice to look out for the Israel’s experience has been the most prominent one since the start of hostilities in eastern Ukraine. However, despite somewhat similar relations with its own neighbors, Israel is in no rush to support Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius has told UNIAN about the prospects of Ukraine getting a visa-free regime this summer, and carrying out necessary reforms amid Russian aggression.

The Ukrainian government intends to "hurry slowly" in the issue of constitutional amendments, especially those involving peculiarities of local government in Donbas. The number of fighters against corruption is growing constantly. The end of the MPs’ protracted vacation was marked with the newly emerged personnel issues in the ruling Coalition. Vitaly Klitschko has become chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Cities.

An oil tanker arrived in Europe from the United States for the first time in 40 years, 15 UN member states were deprived of the right to vote at meetings of the General Assembly for non-payment of membership fees, flu killed 60 people across Ukraine.

The World Economic Forum in Davos was a perfect opportunity for the Ukrainian authorities to compare notes with the world's elite. The European Union approved the ongoing reforms in Ukraine, although hinting that they mustn’t be halted. The Tripartite Liaison Group in Minsk seems to be stuck. Moldova is challenged with a severe political crisis.

In 2016, Ukraine will continue to look for mechanisms of de-occupation of the Russian-annexed Crimea. UNIAN has asked the experts, how realistic can be the Geneva Plus format of negotiations recently proposed by President Poroshenko.

Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov explained in an interview with UNIAN why the Russians and the Ukrainians are not fraternal nations, and why it is impossible to build the "Russian world."

Boris Gryzlov was used as a foreign policy ram. Petro Poroshenko intends to broadcast his calmness into the minds of millions of citizens. This winter, political issues and everyday problems of the households tend to be closely intertwined.

One Ukrainian family was killed in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, Brent crude fell below $30 a barrel, 2.2 million cases of flu and acute respiratory infection have been recorded in Ukraine since the beginning of epidemiological season.

Vladimir Putin has started his political year with the interview with the German Bild, approved by the Kremlin censors and presenting most of his foreign policy objectives. The tripartite group has not progressed in the issue of Donbas settlement. Ukraine actually benefitted from Barack Obama's gaffe in the State of the Union address.

Ukraine’s top government officials are cheerful and optimistic. The edition of the state budget for 2016 adopted by the Verkhovna Rada can postpone indefinitely any visa liberalization in the EU for Ukraine. Russia has taken on a path of "fraternization" with the Ukrainians: despite being a hundred years old, this technology still retains its relevance.

Ukraine may need four years to replace all passports for ID-cards; 2,080 heating points have been opened across Ukraine amid cold snap; 400 of the world’s richest people have lost a total of $194 billion in the first trading week of 2016.

Russian propaganda mixed in one bowl the issues of gas and Crimea. Angela Merkel radiates political optimism. New global challenges are a serious threat to Ukraine.

On the New Year’s eve, December 31, Vladimir Putin signed the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation, which is the basic document of strategic planning, defining Russia’s national interests and strategic priorities. Judging by the text of the document, it is too early to relax for the Ukrainians.

2015 was the year of unfulfilled hopes for Ukraine. The president tried to implement reforms on strategic directions and gently redistribute power in his favor. The Verkhovna Rada was hardly effective throught the year when it was safeguarded from being dissolved. The Cabinet of Ministers reminded of an invigorating civil servant who is chronically ill, but ready to trick the system to avoid layoff.