President Poroshenko believes that the visa-free regime with the Schengen countries for Ukraine and its citizens can become a real instrument for the return of Ukrainian authorities to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea.

"This is an additional incentive for the return of Ukrainian authorities to Donbas and one of the first elements of the strategy for the return of Crimea. It is a motivation for Crimean residents," the President said in the interview with Inter TV channel.

"You either have freedom, democratic rules of life in Ukraine, freedom of investment, certain other benefits, or you stay in the occupied Crimea having no right to travel abroad, having restricted job opportunities with majority of enterprises closed, having restrictions in investment, agriculture and so on," the President noted.

"It is a powerful motivation for people. We must win this fight for the opinion of Crimean residents. I am sure that it will be much easier in Donbas," he added.

The President emphasized that the visa-free travel will be possible for citizens with biometric passports that can be obtained only on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.