MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Hammond welcomed the appointment of the new Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
"It is vitally important that Ukraine’s new government builds on the progress made by its predecessor and continues to implement reforms and root out corruption," Hammond was quoted as saying in a statement published on the British government website.
Hammond added that he hoped Groysman's government would focus on judicial reform in the country, as well as on supporting the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
On Thursday, Groysman, who used to be a speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, was approved as country's prime minister replacing Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Yatsenyuk's government had been in turmoil since early February when the country’s economic development minister resigned citing the slow pace of change and widespread government corruption. Five other ministers initially followed his lead but later rowed back on their intention to quit.
