BRUSSELS

Council of the European Union on Thursday approved visa exemption for Ukrainian citizens travelling to the EU for short stays.

The exemption applies to all EU countries, except the U.K. and Ireland.

"Ukrainian citizens with a biometric passport travelling to the EU for up to 90 days for business, tourist or family purposes will no longer need a visa," according to a press release issued by the Council.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko hailed the decision in a statement, saying visa-free regime was a “giant step towards Europe and assertion of human freedom and independence of Ukraine".

"We get rid of the post-Soviet past and increasingly become part of the common European civilization," he said.

Poroshenko will head to Strasbourg on May 17 to sign the legislative act, the statement added. ​

Reporting by Hasan Esen; Writing by Cansu Dikme,Diyar Guldogan