Ukrainian, French foreign ministers hold talks in Kyiv

Kuleba thanked his French counterpart for strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid Russia's aggressive actions and for France's active mediation efforts to find a political and diplomatic solution to the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, primarily within the Normandy format, the report said.

Le Drian reaffirmed France's commitment to the principle of "No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine" and stressed the sovereign right of Ukraine, like any other nation, to determine its own future.

Both ministers discussed ways to de-escalate the security situation and intensify the political settlement, in particular within the Normandy format. They agreed that an important step in this direction should be the withdrawal of Russian troops from the state border and from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Both parties stressed that a new wave of aggression against Ukraine will have unprecedented consequences for Russia.

The foreign ministers paid special attention to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and ensuring its economic and financial stability.

Kuleba invited the French side to take part in a high-level meeting of the Crimea Platform's parliamentary summit in August.

On the occasion of the 350th birthday of Hetman of Ukraine Pylyp Orlyk, which will be marked in autumn, both ministers agreed to jointly promote the organization in October at the Baturyn Museum of Archeology of the original of Pylyp Orlyk's diary "Diariusz podrozny" (1720-1733), which is stored in the archives of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

"I am grateful to my colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian for his willingness to work together on the exhibition in Ukraine of the original travel diary of our legendary Hetman Pylyp Orlyk. The Orlyk family connects Ukraine and France with strong historical ties, since the Hetman's son, Hryhoriy Orlyk, played an important role in 18th-century French diplomacy. I hope that this autumn the unique diary of the Ukrainian hetman will arrive in an independent and sovereign Ukrainian state for the first time in almost 300 years after its creation. This will be a historic event for Ukraine," Kuleba said.

Le Drian visited Ukraine on February 8 together with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

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