What recent assessment he has made of UK relations with Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

The UK has a very strong bilateral relationship with Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary and I both visited Ukraine last year, and President Yushchenko has paid three visits to the UK in the past 12 months.

On the eve of England's first ever World cup match against Ukraine, does my right hon. Friend agree that it should not be too long before the European Union offers Ukraine a long-term membership perspective, to use the Euro-jargon, and that that measure, more than any other, is likely to encourage further political, legal and economic reform?

That might depend on the outcome of the match. Seriously, it is important for the EU and Ukraine to conclude a substantive new association agreement, including a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement. That will represent a strengthening of our ties and will offer an opportunity for Ukraine to integrate into the European economy, to align with EU energy policy—an important issue in recent months—and to co-operate in other areas such as tackling organised crime and trafficking.

When does the Minister envisage Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union? [ Interruption. ] "Not too soon," I heard someone say. Has the economic crisis in Ukraine delayed that country's entry into the European Union?

Ukraine will become a member of the EU when it meets all the requirements, and that is a matter for Ukraine. With the eastern partnership being launched, it is important for Ukraine to show that it is ready to reform and to find a consensus across the political divide to move forward on an issue that is very popular among the Ukrainian people, namely joining the EU.

The Minister has mentioned trafficking. It is estimated that half a million women from central and eastern Europe are working as prostitutes within the EU. When the Home Affairs Committee went to Ukraine, we found that it was both an origin country and a transit country. What further measures are the Government proposing to help the Government of Ukraine deal with the serious issue of human trafficking?

My right hon. Friend has made an important point. As I have said, getting the association agreement under way will lead to greater collaboration on matters such as organised crime and trafficking. He is right to point out that Ukraine is a significant transit country for illegal migrants and a major exporter of trafficking victims. The Serious Organised Crime Agency is currently working on identifying the criminal networks involved, and we are offering programme assistance to prevent trafficking. We are liaising with agencies here in the UK, such as the UK Border Agency and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, and working with our Ukrainian colleagues to stamp that out.

Will the Minister assure the House that targets are in place to ensure a significant reduction, in human trafficking, particularly in the numbers of women coming either from or via Ukraine into the UK to work in the manner outlined?

I will write to the hon. Gentleman with some detail about targets, because I am not in a position to answer that here. But it is important to demonstrate that the measures we are taking are having an impact. I am happy to write to the hon. Gentleman about how we assess that because, presumably, knowing the flow is important in understanding whether the problem is being tackled effectively.