Ukraine's newly-appointed representative to the EU, Mykola Tochytskyi, says he expects Brussels to support the full entry into force of the association agreement.
He has also expressed support for the introduction of visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens.
Serious doubt on the prospects of the trade deal being adopted was cast by the recent referendum in the Netherlands where a majority of Dutch voters rejected the agreement.
The agreement must be ratified by all member states before it can come into force.
In an interview, the diplomat pointed out that while the results of the Dutch referendum on 6 April are not binding, "we certainly shouldn't underestimate the political significance of this vote both for Ukraine and for the EU as a whole."
Ukraine's head of mission to the EU said the agreement had been backed by the majority of Ukrainians and aims to promote trade and economic cooperation between Kyiv and the EU and implementation of European values and standards in his country.
Turnout in the poll passed the required threshold for the outcome to be considered by the Dutch government and Tochytskyi accepts that the result "cannot be ignored."
Asked about the consequences of the referendum for the Netherlands and for the EU, he replied, "I don't exclude that a so-called 'parade of referendums' may start. We understand this diversity.
"Everybody is different - in the EU, in society; but the rules should be the same for all. This is what unites us. Any institution, including the EU, is strong when the rules are the same for everyone - then everything works."
He was also asked about the future of the EU, given the ongoing migrant crisis engulfing the continent.
He replied, "The EU will live. Indeed, the migration crisis is an acute issue today. But due to the fact that the EU has functional institutions, it will tackle it - the algorithm of actions has already been worked out, and the member states will be able to implement it."
Tochytskyi added, "I believe that the EU will continue its existence, it might even expand - Ukraine will be part of it. That's because the EU is not just an effective institution, but also the philosophy: it is the democratic principles (rule of law, freedom of speech and religion… we can go on), based on an economic component, which has in its core mentality and understanding that the rules of the game are the same for all."
Asked why Ukraine "needs" the EU, his response was, "Over the history of its existence, the EU has worked out rules that helped create an effective system of management - both political and economic. Ukraine wants to use this experience. For Ukraine, the EU is a model of established rules of a democratic society and conducting business.
"There is no sense in inventing anything new if it already exists. Incidentally, the association agreement provides for us to adapt nearly 90 per cent of EU regulations."
In the interview with Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, the new representative was also asked how difficult it was to keep the EU united on the issue of anti-Russian sanctions.
On this, he said, "Currently, there is such unity, which was proven recently on 10 March when the EU decided to extend sanctions against 146 individuals and 37 Russian companies. According to last year's decision of the European Council, the so-called sectoral sanctions are bound to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.
"Everyone understands who implements what, and who doesn't. We just have to clearly and consistently communicate to our partners the actual state of affairs."
Tochytskyi last week presented his credentials to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.
The two sides discussed a wide range of issues on the Ukraine - EU agenda, especially the implementation of the association agreement, Minsk agreements and the situation in the occupied Crimea.
Special attention was paid to the visa liberalisation issue and Tochytskyi said that by the end of this month, "Ukraine awaits the relevant legislative proposal of the European Commission."