Zelensky meets with foreign ministers of Austria, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the security situation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Ivan Korčok on February 8.

The visit was initiated by the Czech Republic as the presiding country within the Slavkov format, which unites the three European countries, the President’s Office informs.

Zelensky briefed the foreign ministers on the security situation and Ukraine's initiatives to intensify the Minsk process and the Normandy format activities.

"It is very important that you’ve visited the JFO area and personally observed the situation on the ground," the President stressed.

The ministers expressed their unanimous support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing its full and indisputable right to independently determine ways to ensure its own security and to choose defense alliances.

The Head of State pointed out the importance of strengthening the defense support for Ukraine. “I am grateful to each of you, your countries, for your support and concrete assistance to Ukraine," he said.

The President commended the fact that the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovakia have a full-fledged diplomatic presence in Kyiv and that these countries refrain from evacuating the families of diplomats. He also stressed the importance of further deepening economic integration between Ukraine and the European Union and expanding access of Ukrainian goods to the EU market, in particular by using the opportunities to update the trade part of the Association Agreement.

As noted, Lipavský, Schallenberg, and Korčok expressed the unanimous opinion that the security of Ukraine is inseparable from the security of Europe and it is impossible to achieve stability on the continent without achieving peace in Ukraine.

Photo credit: president.gov.ua

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