Ukraine remains committed to reform despite Russian aggression – Freeland

Ukraine manages to implement important reforms and maintain its commitment to democracy despite ongoing Russian aggression, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has said.
She said this at a meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Despite ongoing Russian aggression in Crimea, the Kerch Strait and the eastern part of Ukraine, the authorities and people of Ukraine have shown their strong commitment to democracy and reform, Freeland said. We note their continued efforts to implement a large number of reforms on their path to NATO membership, she added.

According to her, that is why Canada has decided to host the third annual Ukraine Reform Conference.

The event will take place after the second round of presidential elections in Ukraine and will mark an important moment in bringing the international community around a newly elected democratic president of Ukraine - no matter who it is - and continuing to support Ukraine in its reform efforts, Freeland said.

The Ukraine Reform Conference will take place in Toronto in early July. Last year, this event was held in Copenhagen and in 2017 in London. The main purpose of the conference is to familiarize international partners with Ukraine's achievements in conducting systemic reforms, as well as outline further areas of cooperation and practical assistance to Ukraine on this path.