KIEV, Jan. 17 – Prime Minister and Regions Party leader Mykola Azarov has expressed the hope that Martin Schulz, the newly elected president of the European Parliament, will support Ukraine's progress in obtaining membership in the European Union.

"On behalf of the Regions Party, I once again express my sincere congratulations on your election and express my wish to further develop relations between the European Parliament and Ukraine. I hope that our respective organizations will continue to work together on the basis of shared objectives and achieve real progress with the further integration into the EU for Ukraine – the most viable destiny for our nation," reads Azarov's letter of congratulation on the election of Martin Schulz, the leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group, as president of the European Parliament.