KIEV, March 2 – Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kubiv has discussed the urgency of ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and liberalization of visa regime with the European Union at a meeting in Brussels with EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

"The EU sanctions remain one of the most effective tools to hold back Russian aggression. We count on the further support of the European Union, including the provision of more trade preferences for Ukraine, the press service of Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Ministry reported, citing Kubiv as saying.