Minister of Foreign and European Integration Gordan Grlić Radman 29 November 2019 met with the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Dmytro Kuleba.
The two officials agreed that the meeting had contributed to the additional strengthening of cooperation and intensification of dialogue on matters of mutual interest. They underlined the fact that there were no outstanding issues between Croatia and Ukraine, two friendly countries with long history of cooperation.
Grlić Radman recalled that Ukraine was the first UN member country to recognize Croatia internationally in 1991. He welcomed the reform process that Ukraine is implementing, underlining that those efforts had not gone unnoticed in the EU and that Croatia was one of the member states commending Ukraine’s achievements. “We strongly support Ukraine's further political association and economic integration with the EU,” the minister said.
Grlić Radman informed Kuleba about the preparations for and priorities of Croatia’s EU presidency, highlighting an Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for June 2020.
The two officials reflected on the help Croatia is offering Ukraine by transferring the know-how and experience regarding European integration and peaceful reintegration of occupied areas, which Kuleba expressed gratitude for. Grlić Radman said that, in accordance with the National Development Cooperation Strategy, Croatia was implementing projects on medical care and psychosocial assistance for Ukrainian war veterans as well as mine action.
Kuleba underscored desire for a direct Kiev-Zagreb flight, in light of a significant increase in tourist visits in both directions.