The European Commission has confirmed that it does not intend to extend the autonomous trade measures for Ukraine, commonly referred to as the “trade visa-free” regime, which is set to expire on June 5.
This was announced by Commission spokesperson Olof Gill during a briefing in Brussels on April 30. Gill emphasized that the end of the temporary regime does not mean the cessation of trade preferences for Ukraine. Instead, the EU aims to ensure a smooth transition to a more sustainable framework — with all trade terms to be enshrined in the full Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
He added that while the exact timeline for the new process has not yet been determined, it will begin “in the near future and proceed in a structured manner.”
