Slovakia and Ukraine held a second joint government session, this time in Slovakia. Prime Ministers of both countries signed the so called transport map, agreeing on common transport links. Talks also included cooperation in the field of energy and restoration of Ukraine. Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal sees the meeting as a confirmation of progress in achieving common goals. Jan Šír of the Institute of International Studies at Charles University in Prague expects that the meeting could improve the Slovak-Ukrainian relations.
Slovakia wishes quick EU membership for Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared. “Slovakia is not a country that would want to lay obstacles to Kyiv's path to European integration,” added the Prime Minister. According to him, the EU is a guarantee of peaceful development for Ukraine, and Slovakia would like to help by sharing its own experience from association proceedings and its EU membership. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal voiced appreciation for the Slovak support for the EU integration efforts of Kyiv.
Fico voiced his wish to find a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine that would respect Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and would be fair to Ukraine. He also extended an offer to Ukraine to help seek peaceful solutions together. "The use of Russian military force in Ukraine constitutes a flagrant violation of international law," said Fico, adding that Ukraine needs help and a show of solidarity. "We've recorded significant progress in arriving at a mutually beneficial cooperation," responded Shmyhal. Prime ministers signed a roadmap and the two governments agreed on the building of a railway connection between Kyiv and Košice.
In the field of energy, the Ukrainian Prime Minister mentioned the renovation of Mukachevo-Veľké Kapušany electric connection and the creation of a working group tasked with the diversification of fuel for nuclear power plants.
The third project is the modernisation of Vyšné Nemecké border crossings.
Fico expects Slovak businesses to get involved in the post-war recovery of Ukraine. "We've invited representatives of business circles to a June conference in Berlin and we will also organise a Ukrainian-Slovak business forum in the autumn, where we would like to discuss investment options," claimed Shmyhal.
TASR
