Ukraine expects Canadian mission to assess possible visa liberalization - Kuleba

This issue was discussed at a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Larisa Galadza, the ministry's press service reported.

"The interlocutors discussed visa liberalization between Ukraine and Canada. At the request of the foreign minister, Ms. Ambassador confirmed her readiness to facilitate the sending of a relevant Canadian assessment mission to Ukraine," the report reads.

Kuleba said he expected the Canadian assessment mission to be sent in the near future. The mission will determine the level of Ukraine's compliance with the criteria for inclusion in the list of countries whose citizens have the right to enter Canada according to a simplified procedure. It will also determine further necessary steps.

In addition, the parties discussed issues on bilateral agenda and cooperation within international organizations.

According to the report, Kuleba stressed the importance of increasing the intensification of trade and investment between the two countries, which will be facilitated by the extension of the Ukrainian-Canadian free trade agreement to the sphere of services and investment.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the decision to include in the list of countries whose citizens have the right to simplified entry into Canada is made on the basis of the country's compliance with about 40 requirements that are divided into seven main areas: socio-economic conditions, migration issues, travel document integrity, safety and security issues, border management, human rights issues, bilateral considerations. Today, citizens of 27 countries and citizens of EU countries have a liberalized visa regime with Canada.

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