PM Groysman: Ukraine cannot stop train service with Russia over obligations to EU

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman says that Ukraine cannot stop the train service with the Russian Federation over transit obligations with the European Union.

"We cannot simply stop at a moment's notice the transportation service between Ukraine and Russia, including by rail, when there are goods transit shipments to the European Union, and we have international obligations to the EU as part of the Association Agreement," he said on July 12 during the "Opposition" talk show, a project of TV channels "Our" and "Ukraina."

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At the same time, the resumption of air traffic is out of the question, he said.

Responding to a comment by a viewer of the program that the Kyiv-Moscow route became the most profitable direction of the Ukrzaliznytsia railways after flights to Russia had been banned, Groysman said that such sanctions had been introduced in response to Russian aggression.

"Russia has attacked Ukraine, it's our enemy. Therefore, these restrictions, including a ban on the air service, will be in effect until Russia withdraws from Ukraine's territory," Groysman said.

As UNIAN reported, train No. 5/6 running between Kyiv and Moscow became the most profitable railway route for Ukraine's railway administration, Ukrzaliznytsia, for the five months of 2019. Its profit exceeded that posted by top five domestic railway routes.