BRUSSELS
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday signalled the EU is likely to extend visa-free travel to Ukrainians by the end of the year.
"I would like to underline, if Ukraine has fulfilled all requirements, which are those of the European Commission… the Commission will give a positive assessment," he told reporters in Brussels during a news conference with Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko.
"Given the progress realized in Ukraine, I don’t doubt for one single second that member states will approve the visa free [travel]."
In June, Poroshenko signed an association agreement with the EU that opened EU markets to Ukrainian exports and committed the former Soviet republic to economic and social reform as it looks to align itself to the 28-member bloc.
"We want to see free travel between Ukraine and Europe sooner rather than later," European Council President Donald Tusk said.
The comments come as Europe is struggling with the greatest mass movement of people since the World War II, raising questions about member state support for visa-free travel for Ukrainians.
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday told German newspaper Bild the conflict in eastern Ukraine is prompting an influx of Ukrainians to Poland.
"When the conflict escalates again, a lot more people will come to us,” he said. “From the signals we're already getting, several hundred thousand Ukrainians want to escape to us."
