Ukrzaliznytsia / Photo from UNIAN
He explains the deal is a strategic partnership rather than sale or concession.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk says that Ukrzaliznytsia's cooperation with Germany's Deutsche Bahn will not mean that Ukraine will lose control of the company or sell it.
"The important point to avoid speculation: it is about a strategic partnership only – there is no sale or concession of Ukrzaliznytsia. The Ukrainian railways remain under the full control of the state, and that's for sure. Period!" he said on Facebook on January 23.
The Ukrainian government and the German side are currently negotiating further cooperation in operational activities, in the provision of advisory services by the German railway.
Honcharuk is convinced that such cooperation will improve the efficiency and quality of rail transportation in Ukraine.
He also announced the parliament's transport committee is expected to meet on January 24 to approve further cooperation in detail.
Honcharuk promises to disclose more information on February 5, when a strategic partnership agreement between Ukrzaliznytsia and Deutsche Bahn is to be signed.
Read alsoUkraine signs memorandum with Deutsche Bahn
As UNIAN reported earlier, Honcharuk previously said that the government wanted to transfer Ukrzaliznytsia to Deutsche Bahn for management for 10 years.
Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry and the German railway operator signed a memorandum of mutual understanding in Davos on January 22.
UNIAN memo. Ukrzaliznytsia is a joint-stock company, wholly owned by the state. The company is on the list of state-run enterprises that are not subject to privatization. It accounts for 82% of freight transportation and about 50% of passenger traffic by all modes of transport. In terms of freight traffic, the Ukrainian company ranks fourth on the Eurasian continent, after the railways of China, Russia and India.