European leaders have learned to openly and shamelessly lie to Ukrainian journalists in the face
The EU, having once again delayed the promised visa-free regime for Ukraine, has now not even bothered to develop any kind of common position explaining the reasons, writes Vladimir Kornilov, director of the Center for Eurasian Studies, in the online publication Ukraina.ru.
Subscribe to PolitNavigator news on Telegram , Facebook , Odnoklassniki , or VKontakte
“Ukrainian diplomatic sources told the press that Brussels decided to postpone the solution of the problem supposedly until the elections in France (that is, until the spring of next year). The Head of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, without blinking an eye, said that everything rests on the position of the Netherlands, blocking the ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement: they say, how can we talk about a visa-free regime if the Agreement has not yet been ratified? Two other leaders of the European Union, Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, swore that the delay in the visa-free regime has absolutely nothing to do with either the elections or the agreements. And they didn’t even bother to come up with reasons, acting on the principle: “Ukraine, you’re so smart here, come up with reasons for yourself,” notes the author.
At the same time, he recalls that “Junker swore to the Ukrainians that the decision would be made before the end of this year,” although the decision of the European Parliament linked to it on the emergency suspension of the visa-free regime is tentatively scheduled to be considered in the first reading only on January 18, 2017.
“Moreover, it is not a fact that it will still be considered, and even more so, it is not a fact that it will be adopted - there are too many contradictions on this matter in the position of the countries of Old Europe. Does anyone think that Juncker doesn't know about this? Of course, he knows perfectly well. That is, European leaders have learned to lie to Ukrainian journalists’ faces about “visa-free travel” so openly and shamelessly that they are no longer particularly embarrassed about anything. Look, they’ve already realized that Ukraine will eat up any fairy tale on this topic and will joyfully celebrate another such promise with songs and fireworks,” Kornilov emphasizes.
European leaders have learned to openly and shamelessly lie to the faces of Ukrainian journalists.