EU Commission to propose visa-free travel for Ukrainians despite referendum

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker promised Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in March that the EU executive would put forward the eagerly awaited proposal in April, offering Ukrainians the most tangible benefit of closer ties at a time when a free trade deal has not yet borne fruit for their economy.  "It may look as if we're ignoring the Dutch voters, but we have to keep our word to Ukraine, which has met the conditions," the source said.  The proposal must be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states and by the European Parliament to take effect.  The source said the Commission would include some form of safeguard enabling EU countries to reinstate visas temporarily in case of a surge of migration.