BRUSSELS -- Ukrainians are celebrating the first day of visa-free travel to most EU countries, which President Petro Poroshenko welcomed as a "a final exit of our country from the Russian Empire."

The liberalized regime entered into force on June 11, allowing Ukrainian citizens who have biometric passports to enter all EU member states other than Ireland and the United Kingdom without a visa for up to 90 days during any 180-day period. It also applies to four Schengen Area countries that are not in the EU: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

Poroshenko met with Slovak his counterpart, Andrej Kiska, on the Slovak-Ukrainian border, opening a symbolic "door to the EU."

"We have waited so long for this," the Ukrainian president said at the Uzhhorod border crossing in the Zakarpattia region. "I am sure that this day, June 11, will go down in the history of Ukraine as a final exit of our country from the Russian empire and its return to the family of European nations. "Welcome to Europe," Kiska told the crowd attending the event. "I want to call on you to continue carrying out reforms."

"The visa-free regime for Ukraine has started! Glory to Europe! Glory to Ukraine!" Poroshenko earlier wrote on Twitter after hundreds of Ukrainians crossed the EU border.

WATCH: June 11 was the first day when the citizens of Ukraine could enter countries of the European Union without a visa. Passengers arriving in Brussels on a flight from Kyiv shared their positive feelings with RFE/RL correspondent Rikard Jozwiak.

"Flights to Warsaw, Budapest, Frankfurt, and Munich have successfully landed and passed passport control;) #Bezviz -- just the beginning!" Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin cheered on Twitter.

Thousands of people had crossed the border into EU countries by midday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's consular department wrote on Twitter.

Ukrainian travelers arriving in Brussels on June 11 said they were pleased about the ease with which they could now travel to Europe and the greater integration with the EU that it represented.



"It feels very good when you can travel without any restrictions, when you just need to have a passport and that's all. That feels very good," Ukrainian student Inna Teryokhina told RFE/RL at Brussels Airport.

Ukrainian border officials said they are expecting a 30 percent rise in passenger traffic at control sites along the frontier with the new regulations.

WATCH: ​The first Ukrainians arriving in the Czech Republic without visas were passengers on a June 11 morning flight from Odesa. RFE/RL interviewed some of them at Vaclav Havel international airport in Prague. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)

Mykola Tochytskyi, the head of Ukraine's mission to the EU, told RFE/RL outside the European Parliament in Brussels on June 11 that "for Ukraine, today is a big day."



"It is not only about celebration; it is also a confirmation of our stand[ing]. To be with Europe. Not only outside of the region, but to be with Europe, to be a partner [who had] implemented all the benchmarks when it was decided to go for the visa-free regime," Tochytskyi said.

In a message on Twitter posted on June 11, European Council President Donald Tusk wrote, "A day to remember. Visa free travel for Ukrainians now a reality. Bringing us closer together."

In a video address, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said that visa-free travel was achieved after "a long process but finally the reform efforts paid off."



"This is a real milestone proving that the European Union delivers on its promises," he said. "Ukraine's commitment to the reform process will always result in tangible benefits for the citizens. This should be a motivation to stay on the reform course."

"Today, we bring down a barrier between the people of Ukraine and the people of the European Union," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a video address released late on June 10.

"It will create new opportunities for all of us, strengthening our economies, or security, and our friendship," she also said. "And this is what our partnership is all about: making a difference to our citizens’ everyday life."

Hugues Mingarelli, head of the EU delegation to Ukraine, said at the ceremony that Ukrainians will be able "to travel to 33 countries of West Europe without any visa requirements."

Mingarelli said the visa-free regime was "just the first step" toward "intensifying relations" between the EU and Ukraine.

Poroshenko said on June 10 as he counted down the final 12 hours before the start of the travel regime that he believes Ukraine will become a member of both NATO and the EU, and that "nothing, nobody will ever stop us."

"The words 'back in the U.S.S.R.' will be heard only listening to The Beatles," Poroshenko said. "We will never return to the Soviet Union because we, a proud and free democratic nation, return to the family of European nations."

He said the "last sound of the countdown" will mark "the fall of not the concrete Berlin Wall but the paper curtain that has been separating Ukrainians from the European family for years."



"We must return Ukrainians their history. That is why today’s decision of the EU is so important. A long process has been completed. First of all, it goes about the return of Ukraine to its historic place among the European countries, not only about the visa-free border crossing," Poroshenko told the 1+1 television channel.

Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, was pushed from power in 2014 by massive pro-European protests after he scrapped plans for a deal to tighten ties with the EU. Russia then seized control of Ukraine's Crimea region and fomented separatism in eastern Ukraine, where a war between Russia-backed forces and the government has killed more than 9,900 people.

Much of present-day Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire beginning in the 17th century, and Ukraine was under Moscow's thumb as a Soviet republic for most of the 20th century. It gained independence in the Soviet collapse of 1991.

With reporting by Interfax, UNIAN, and euractiv.com</s>KIEV (Sputnik) – Ukrainian citizens’ 90-day visa-free travel to the EU member states came into force Sunday, Poroshenko said.

“Visa-free regime for Ukraine started working!” Poroshenko posted on his Facebook account.

On May 17, President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and Malta’s Interior Minister Carmelo Abela, presiding at the Council of the European Union, signed a document on amending the bloc’s legislation to grant Ukrainians the 90-day visa-free regime, which entered into force at midnight local time on Sunday (21:00 GMT on Saturday).</s>Ukrainians can now enter the European Union visa-free
• What comes next?</s>"I would like to urge you to further deliver the reforms. The reforms require a lot of efforts. This means that you must continue carrying them out, this poses a lot of obligations, but it is very beneficial for you," Kiska said during the solemn joint address with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko in the Zakarpats'ka region in western Ukraine.

Slovakia will continue supporting Ukraine on its way to Europe, Kiska added.

"Dear neighbors, welcome to Europe," the Slovak leader stressed.

The European Commission confirmed that Ukraine met all the necessary requirements for visa liberalization in December 2015, and on April 6, the European Parliament approved the introduction of the short-stay visa-free regime for Ukraine. Under the agreement, the Ukrainians will be able to enter the European Union without a visa for 90 days in a 180-day period for business purposes or tourism.

On May 17, President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and Malta's Interior Minister Carmelo Abela, presiding at the Council of the European Union, signed a document on amending the bloc's legislation to grant visa-free regime for the Ukrainians.</s>Under the agreement, the Ukrainians will be able to enter the European Union without a visa for 90 days in a 180-day period for business purposes or tourism.

"Ukraine has delivered the reforms its citizens were asking for, and we in the European Union, we have kept our promise. This is what we call a win-win solution. It will create new opportunities for all of us strengthening our economies, our security and our friendship. And this is what our partnership is all about — making a difference to our citizens' everyday life," Mogherini said in a statement published by the European Commission's delegation to Ukraine on Facebook.

On May 17, President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and Malta's Interior Minister Carmelo Abela, presiding at the Council of the European Union, signed a document on amending the bloc's legislation to grant visa-free regime for the Ukrainians.</s>Despite major changes in the visa regime between the European Union and Ukraine, there are still some restrictions. Ukrainian nationals are not allowed to enter the Schengen Area without biometric passports. They are recommended to have a number of documents with them, including proof of having 45 euros ($50) for every day, a medical insurance, a green card for travelers on car, an invitation from relatives and confirmation of booking a place for living in a hostel, hotel and so on.

On the day, when the visa-free regime entered into force, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko opened a symbolic door to the European Union at the border with Slovakia. The official ceremony was also attended by Slovak President Andrej Kiska.

"We have been waiting for this moment for a long time and this is a historic moment, when we lift this paper curtain separating Ukraine from Europe. It means that Ukraine has carried out huge reforms. We have changed our country by joint efforts and out partners in Europe have kept their word and now the door of the European Union, the door of our friends is open to our 45-million nation, for Ukrainian people. I congratulate all of you," Poroshenko said at the ceremony.

In Ukraine's capital of Kiev, the celebrations are taking place along with concerts, entertainment events and meetings with the ambassadors from the EU countries. On Saturday, many Ukrainians spent their night on the streets of Kiev celebrating the beginning of the visa-free regime.

A number of experts in Ukraine and Europe raised concerns amid possible influx of migrants from Ukraine. Some countries expressed concerns over security threats since it would be unclear who entered their territory.

According to Ukraine's State Employment Service, only 1 percent of Ukrainians are applying for an official job abroad in line with legislation.

French Ambassador to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont said the regime could become a problem for Ukraine itself since valuable labor force is likely to flee the country.

EU TRIP NOT AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE

Although the Ukrainians have long aspired for a visa-free travel to the European Union, it does not mean that everyone can afford it, especially taken into account a deep economic crisis in the country.

"It means that in the conditions of total poverty and hunger, neither pensioners with a pension about $50, nor students with scholarship allowance about $41.5 or millions of people working for a minimal salary of $120.8 are not even dreaming about traveling to EU countries for holiday," the representatives of All-Ukrainian Social Movement Ukrainian Choice believe.

Moreover, against the background of the growing prices for utilities, caused in particular by the blockade of eastern regions, which traditionally supplied coal for the whole country, the real income of people again went down.</s>Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has welcomed the pending introduction of visa-free travel by Ukrainians to the European Union as "a final 'goodbye' to the Russian Empire."

Poroshenko said on June 10 in Kyiv that he believes Ukraine will become a member of both NATO and the EU, and that "nothing, nobody will ever stop us."

"The words 'back in the U.S.S.R.' will be heard only listening to The Beatles," Poroshenko said. "We will never return to the Soviet Union because we, a proud and free democratic nation, return to the family of European nations."

Poroshenko's remarks came at a ceremony in which he launched a countdown clock for the last 12 hours before the visa-free regime is due to come into effect on June 11.

He said the "last sound of the countdown" will mark "the fall of not the concrete Berlin Wall, but the paper curtain that has been separating Ukrainians from the European Family for years."

Hugues Mingarell , head of the EU delegation to Ukraine, said at the ceremony that Ukrainians will be able "to travel to 33 countries of West Europe without any visa requirements."

Mingarelli said the visa-free regime was "just the first step" toward "intensifying relations" between the EU and Ukraine.</s>ISLAMABAD, Jun 11 (APP): Ukrainians are celebrating Sunday

 first day of visa-free travel to most European Union countries.

 On which President Petro Poroshenko has been welcomed as a “a final

 ‘goodbye’ to the Russian Empire.”

 This was stated by Ambassador of Ukraine in Pakistan, Volodymyr

 Lakomov.

 He said that now Ukrainian citizens who had biometric

 passports could enter to all EU member states except Ireland and

 the United Kingdom without a visa for up to 90 days during any 180-

 day period, said a press release here.

 The ambassador said that visa would be necessary for four

 Schengen area countries that are not in the EU including Norway,

 Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

 Volodymyr Lakomov said that “The visa-free regime for Ukraine

 has started, Glory to Europe, Glory to Ukraine,” adding Poroshenko wrote on

 Twitter after hundreds of Ukrainians crossed the EU border.

 “It will create new opportunities for all of us, strengthening

 our economies, or security, and our friendship,” he said. “And this

 is what our partnership is all about: making a difference to our

 citizens’ everyday life.”

 The ambassador said that Ukrainians will be able “to travel to

 33 countries of West Europe without any visa requirements.”

 He said that the visa-free regime was “just the first step”

 toward “intensifying relations” between the EU and Ukraine.

 “We must returned Ukrainians history, decision of the EU

 is so important, a long process has been completed, first of all, it

 goes about the return of Ukraine to its historic place among the

 European countries, not only about the visa-free border crossing,”

 he added.</s>Ukrainians cheer on first day of visa-free EU travel

Ukrainians were on Sunday celebrating the first day of visa-free access to the European Union, with hundreds crossing the border as President Petro Poroshenko proclaimed a dramatic “breakaway” from Moscow.

The move is symbolic for Kiev, where a pro-EU revolt in 2014 toppled the previous Russia-backed government and was followed by Moscow’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula sparking a protracted ongoing conflict with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

“The visa-free regime for Ukraine has started! Glory to Europe! Glory to Ukraine!” Poroshenko tweeted early Sunday after hundreds of Ukrainians crossed the EU border.

Only those with biometric passports — containing a microchip with personal data, including fingerprints — can take advantage of the visa-free travel for the time being.

Late Saturday, Poroshenko addressed a crowd in Kiev’s European Square saying the new travel regime “symbolises a final breakaway of our state from the Russian empire” and calling the future a “different historical era.”

Kiev is also seeking to boost European integration with cheaper rail links and more low-cost air connections with EU cities, he said.

Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin also cheered on Twitter after passengers on flights from Ukraine were able to enter Warsaw, Budapest, Frankfurt and other airports.

“#Bezviz (no visa) is just the beginning!” he wrote.

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Also, Like us on facebook</s>On Sunday, hundreds of people crossed the EU’s borders as Ukrainians celebrated that for the first time they can travel to EU countries without a visa.

The visa-free gateway to the west is symbolic for Ukraine, and President Petro Poroshenko declared that it represents ‘the final break with the Russian empire.’

‘The visa-free era for Ukraine has begun. Glory to Europe! Glory be Ukraine!’ tweeted Poroshenko on Sunday morning

Currently, only Ukrainians with relatively new, biometric passports can travel to EU countries without a visa. These contain microchips supplying personal data, and fingerprints.

To promote integration with the EU, Ukraine’s capital city, Kiev, is also working toward providing cheaper train and air links to European cities.
The European Union's visa-free regime for Ukraine officially enters into force.