Kiev Asks For A Visa-Free Regime - Will This Trigger Tensions With Brussels?

One year after the outbreak of the civil unrest and demonstration against former President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine is raising its voice by asking Brussels to compensate its commitment to European values. 

"A visa-free regime is what the EU can reward Ukrainian citizens for their commitment to the common European values. Freedom of movement is one of these values. I am convinced that by the time will be finally completed all items of the second phase of liberalization and visa will be canceled," Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Ostap Semerak said on Friday.

Kiev hopes the EU will take a final decision on the abolition of visas for Ukrainian citizens during Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2015, adds the note. 

"Ukraine counts on active support from Latvia during its presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2015," Semerak said during the joint press conference with Foreign Minister of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs in Riga.

The call for help could ignite some discussions at the European level, possibly triggering tensions between Brussels and Kiev.