KIEV, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday said that the overall situation in his country has improved over the past few years, but challenges still remain.
"Despite all current challenges and threats, the progress is obvious: the situation inside Ukraine and around us is certainly not as dramatic as it was in 2014-2015. We have become more stable and stronger," Poroshenko said in his annual address to the parliament.
The Ukrainian leader listed the resumption of economic growth, the creation of the strong army, the reduction of energy dependence and the modernization of regional infrastructure as among the main improvements inside the country
While speaking on his foreign policy achievements, Poroshenko said Ukraine has benefited from increased cooperation with the European Union and the United States.
He said that Ukraine's trade and cooperation potential with the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America have not been fully exploited.
Poroshenko named an unstable external environment, the conflict in Donbas, slow reform progress, an insufficient fight against corruption, and an uneven distribution of resources as Ukraine's current major challenges.
