KIEV, Dec. 9 – In a sign that one of the Ukrainian government's key foreign policy initiatives may be in jeopardy, Prime Minister Volodymyr Grosman denied at a Parliament session that Kiev supported admitting a quota of refugees in exchange for Ukrainians receiving the long-sought right to travel to European Union countries without applying for visas.

The Cabinet of Ministers does not support the initiative, Groysman reassured MPs.

"This is not the position of the Ukrainian government vis a vis refugees. Our position is very clear and understandable: We do not support such initiatives," Groysman said in Verkhovna Rada on Friday, responding to a question of a parliament deputy about the sacking of Deputy Justice Minister Serhiy Petukhov, allegedly for backing such an initiative.

As earlier reported, the official, following the rejection by Netherlands voters of a Ukraine-EU deal, proposed that Ukraine fulfill a quota of one of EU member states to relocate refugees in Ukraine in exchange for Ukrainians receiving visa-free status in EU member states.

"It is no secret that taking such a decision on Ukraine [extending visa-free status] was influenced in large measure by the flight of refugees from Syria. The influx of refugees caused a negative reaction of voters against refugees, and EU leaders hesitated to give Ukraine visa-free status. If this is our biggest problem, then, maybe, this can solve it! I would propose to the EU that Ukraine voluntarily satisfy a quota for taking in refugees [of an EU member state]. I think our country could take the quote of, let's say, the Netherlands [for resettling Syrian refugees]," Petukhov wrote on his Facebook page. (om/ez)