WARSAW, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The eighth edition of the Europe-Ukraine Forum kicked off in Lodz, Poland on Sunday.

The three-day event consists of debates, presentation of reports, lectures and panel discussions related to the Ukrainian economy, development and political situation.

Cezary Grabarczyk, minister of justice of Poland, said: "Ukraine needs peace, needs an chance to concentrate on its social and economic changes".

He added he hopes that the current ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk in Belarus last week could last.

Several hundred participants from countries, such as Ukraine, the U.S., Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Georgia, attended the event, one of the most important events organized by the Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies. Enditem