Ukraine: Visa-free travel to EU approved for Ukrainians

Event

On Thursday, March 11, the European Union (EU) approved visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainian citizens with a biometric passport for 90 days out of a 180-day period for tourism, family, or business related trips. The United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland are not included. According to the European Council, the agreement can be reversed by member states if migration or security issues arise due to Ukrainian visa-free travel.

The new regulation will be signed by the European Council on May 17 and will come into effect 20 days later.

Context

Talks for a visa deal between the EU and Ukraine began in 2008, with the European Commission providing approval for a future deal in 2015. Following Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s ascension to the presidency after former President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in 2014, the EU and Ukraine made political and trade agreements that opened the way for a visa-free travel.

President Poroshenko has attempted to strengthen ties with the EU and the West partially in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea and a pro-Russian insurgency that began in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (Donbass region) in 2014.

Advice

Due to ongoing fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country, many Western governments advise against travel to Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (Donbass region), as well as areas along the Russian border.