Ukraine is trying to get visa regime simplification from the EU. But the UK is not a Shengen member. Does it mean that Ukrainians who wish to go to your country for work, studies or with a tourist aim shouldn’t expect any changes?

Actually, a great deal has already changed. We have a new border agency, which administers the entire system. Over the past couple of years the United Kingdom has introduced a series of changes in administering visas for people visiting the United Kingdom. Some of these changes are fundamental, including the introduction of what we call biometrics. We’ve moved to a system where we have commercial organisations involved in handling the visas to make it more efficient and quicker, so that visa queues have become more or less a thing of the past. On migration, there is a new points-based system being brought in, similar to the system which has been in operation for several years in Australia and which works well.  We're hoping it will make things clearer and more transparent.

What are the weakest spots in Ukraine’s current political situation?

It’s not for me to comment on internal political developments in Ukraine. At the same time, of course, it is important that every country has an effective government. This is true also in the context of Ukraine’s application to join the European Union, and its wish to join NATO. Clearly, there are areas where progress is being slowed down, because there are not clear decisions being taken in Ukraine. I was recently in Crimea, and I talked to a number of political leaders and other figures down there. And several people said to me: ‘We would like a more positive a program of policies in Kiev towards Crimea’. Similarly, when it comes to the investment climate, it would be very helpful to have clear rules, which are set up by the government in Kiev. On the one hand, the vibrant debate that we are seeing at the moment in Kiev is a sign of a healthy democracy. On the other hand, at some point you need to complete the discussions of how to form the government and you need to get on with governing the country. I think that it would be helpful if there was a little bit more cohesion, a bit more consensus, and a bit more governance.

The Ukraine-NATO relations resemble the story about Achilles and a turtle – they are getting closer and closer but still can’t catch up. Will Ukraine join the Alliance?

First of all, let me say that this is a decision for Ukraine. It’s not something that anybody else is trying to make Ukraine do, it must be something that Ukraine wants. We were very pleased with the outcome of the summit in Bucharest earlier this year, which said that Ukraine will become the member of NATO, that seems a very important step forward. On the one hand, we will continue to support that. On the other hand, there are a number of things that Ukraine needs to do itself, and they include internal reforms, such as security sector reform, judicial reform and more effective administration system. If we have a little bit more consensus in Kiev, the process will be more successful. There are also a range of practical measures where we are co-operating with Ukraine to help it towards NATO membership. In particular, the UK is helping to reform the justice and home affairs sector in Ukraine. There is also a certain amount of defence and security co-operation.

When in 2002 there was a scandal about radio detection and ranging equipment Kolchuga allegedly sold by Ukraine to Iraq, a British Colonel said in a private conversation that the UK armed forces wouldn’t mind acquiring a couple of stations though it was impossible. Has anything changed in the sphere of military-technical co-operation since that time?

Besides security sector reform and combined military exercises, we’re also co-operating with Ukraine on a project to increase European helicopter capacity, the so-called Helicopter Initiative. In this area Ukraine has a lot to offer as it has the experience of building helicopters, their preparation and adaptation to different operating conditions, at high altitude and in the desert. Ukraine also has great experience in training helicopter pilots. As far as the radars are concerned, the UK has no plans to acquire Ukrainian radars.

And finally, I have a question, which concerns only the UK. Is there any possibility that the UK can become federative?

There has been a great deal of constitutional development in the United Kingdom since 1997. There have been referenda in Wales and in Scotland about future constitutional developments, and there have been assemblies set up in Edinburgh and Cardiff. The important point here is that whatever happens in the United Kingdom will be decided in a democratic way. At every stage there’s been consultation. These are important, long-term changes. At the moment, there are all kinds of discussions going on in Scotland, in particular, about the future shape of the constitutional settlement there, and rather less so in Wales, and to some extent in England. Some people say: ‘Well, if we have assemblies for Scotland and Wales, why do we not have one for England?’ I’m quite relaxed about this. I think that the British system of government is strong and flexible, and we can work out those constitutional arrangements which suit the needs of the country best.