President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expressed gratitude to the organizers of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga for hospitality and declared support of Ukraine.

The Head of State has thanked Poland and Sweden for their initiative to establish the Eastern Partnership, which provides a unique opportunity for the member-states to implement reforms and share common values with the EU countries. “We consider it important for the illegal annexation of Crimea and aggression in Donbas, these new geopolitical realities, to be negotiated at all discussions of the summit. All the debates enhanced solidarity with Ukraine. It is very important for us,” the President said.

The Head of State added that Riga declaration reaffirmed the illegal character of Crimea’s annexation.

The President has emphasized that the results of the Summit had proved that the skepticism heard on the eve of the Summit had been unfounded. "Our effective cooperation with the EU leaders gives serious positions for the future," Petro Poroshenko noted.

The Head of State informed that he had held a series of meetings with the EU leaders in the course of the Summit, particularly with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President of France Francois Hollande, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. “All the meetings demonstrated support to Ukraine and firm response to the Russian aggression and annexation of Crimea,” the President noted.

The President has drawn attention to the fact that in the Summit’s Declaration, the EU highlighted the right of every country to choose one’s future and path independently. “Confirmation of fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and borders is vitally important for us” Petro Poroshenko said.

The Head of State has also praised the decision of the EU to establish a program of support to small and medium business of the Eastern Partnership countries and assistance in the energy sphere modernization.

The President has praised the EU’s decision to finalize the elaboration of the Agreement on Open Skies. The Head of State is hopeful that the given agreement would be signed in 2015.

Petro Poroshenko has also confirmed that the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU would fully enter into force starting from January 1, 2016.

The President stated that relations between Ukraine and the EU were at a very high level.