Ukraine to Meet EU Membership Criteria in 5 Years - President

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) speaks as Jean-Claude Juncker (L), the President of the European Commission listens during the opening of the `International Support For Ukraine` conference in Kiev, Ukraine, April 28, 2015.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said his country will be able to meet EU accession criteria in up to 5 years.

In Poroshenko's words quoted by UNIAN news agency, integration into the 28-nation bloc is the government's main goal.

The President made his remarks during his meeting with top EU officials including European Council President Donald Tusk and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Both Tusk and Barroso attended a conference dedicated to Ukraine's recovery held in Kiev on Tuesday, apart from holding a private conversation with the head of state.

Brussels is currently reluctant to offering Ukraine any prospects of becoming a EU member in the next decade, with a free trade agreement to enter into force next year instead.

On Monday, EU officials also turned down his proposal that a military mission should be sent to Eastern Ukraine's Donbass region, where pro-Russian activists have been fighting Kiev forces for more than a year.

Meanwhile, the US said it is planning to grant an additional USD 2 B to the country, which is struggling to avoid a financial collapse.

Aid, however, is tied to crucial economic reforms, as US Vice President Joe Biden warned in a video address during the conference.

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