The end of the “Russian world”: how the visa-free regime in 2017 changed the historical course of Ukraine

On June 11, 2017, a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union came into effect, simplifying travel abroad for millions of citizens. The fifth President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, who led the country during the final stage of negotiations in Strasbourg, called this decision a civilizational choice and a final exit from the post-Soviet space.

“If you want, this is overcoming the consequences of the Pereyaslavl Council, this is an exit from the so-called post-Soviet states, which in Russia are contemptuously called the “near abroad”. And vice versa, this is even greater involvement of Ukraine in the common European civilizational space. Now only madmen can consider Ukraine part of the so-called “Russian world”. Ukraine is part of a united Europe,” Poroshenko declared then.

The introduction of visa-free travel required the implementation of complex systemic reforms in line with European standards. Key requirements included the launch of biometric passports, the creation of an anti-corruption infrastructure (NABU and SAPO), strengthening migration policy and the security of state documents.

The joint efforts of diplomats, government teams, and the parliamentary coalition made it possible to pass the necessary laws in the fall of 2015, opening the door to a united Europe.

“They were spinning at the temple”: behind the scenes of the long struggle for Ukrainian visa-free travel

The idea of simplifying travel for Ukrainian citizens arose in 2005 after the Orange Revolution, but representatives of the European Union did not believe in the implementation of this plan for a long time. The then deputy head of the presidential administration, Konstantin Yeliseyev, who took a direct part in the negotiation process with European structures, shared the complex details of many years of diplomatic work.

“We were supposed to get visa-free travel sometime in 2015-2016. But, unfortunately, every time the European Union reinvented the wheel, as they say: new and new prerequisites,” the diplomat says.

The obstacles were overcome after the head of state personally convinced the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to stop adding new requirements for the Ukrainian side. The government teams and the parliamentary coalition also made a significant contribution to this process by adopting a package of necessary reforms.

The first important legislative acts were adopted in November 2015. The creation of anti-corruption bodies and the introduction of electronic declaration allowed obtaining the consent of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU in the spring of 2017.

Rescue Corridor: How Visa-Free Regime Helped Millions of Ukrainians at the Beginning of the Great War

After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, the visa-free regime has acquired an extremely important humanitarian significance for the citizens of Ukraine. The ability to freely cross the border without visas has allowed millions of women and children to quickly find safe haven in the countries of the European Union.

Assessing the situation in early March, the European Commission directly stated in its statement: “Ukraine is a visa-free country for entry into the EU. Therefore, holders of Ukrainian biometric passports are exempt from visa requirements when traveling to the EU.”

According to the United Nations, more than three million citizens left Ukraine in the first three weeks of full-scale hostilities alone. Thanks to biometric passports, people avoided lengthy bureaucratic procedures at the borders and could independently choose the countries for temporary residence.

It was visa-free travel that accelerated the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive on March 4, 2022. Now Ukraine is preparing for the next stage of European integration – the start of negotiations on full membership in the EU, which should begin in mid-June, provided that the rule of law is observed.

On the ninth anniversary, the fifth president, Petro Poroshenko, said that the visa-free regime with the European Union was an achievement that later simplified the departure of millions of citizens after the outbreak of the Great War. In his opinion, this success demonstrated the state’s ability to implement complex decisions for a common goal.

Poroshenko emphasized the importance of the European vector of the state’s development, noting: “Visa-free travel has proven that Ukraine is capable of achieving great goals. Now we must prove that Ukraine is capable of going all the way – to full membership in the European Union.”

At the same time, the fifth president recalled the times when travel required lengthy collection of papers, income certificates, and exhausting waiting in lines at consulates. However, thanks to the implementation of anti-corruption reforms, the creation of new institutions, and dialogue with partners, the situation has changed. Currently, despite the closed skies and long travel times, simplified border crossing remains an open door.

Today, the country is one step away from the start of official negotiations on joining the union. For success, it is necessary to continue internal transformations, ensure the rule of law, and maintain democratic principles under martial law, – emphasized Petro Poroshenko.

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