Donbas, Crimea Will Be Among Priorities of Sweden’s 2021 OSCE Chair

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held a virtual meeting with Ann Linde, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden. The ministers discussed the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the efforts to peacefully settle the Russian-Ukrainian war in Donbas.

Kuleba informed Linde about Ukraine’s initiatives within the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group. The parties underscored the importance of Russia’s strict implementation of previously reached agreements to promote a peaceful settlement in eastern Ukraine. In addition, the ministers paid special attention to the priorities of Sweden’s OSCE Chair in 2021.

“We have a good tradition when the new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office pays the first foreign visit to Ukraine. In continuation of this tradition, I will be happy to welcome Ann Linde to Kyiv early next year. We highly appreciate Sweden’s willingness to include the issue of Russian aggression in Donbas and the temporary occupation of Crimea in the priorities of Sweden’s Chair,” Kuleba said.

The minister also called for proper OSCE monitoring in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. Kuleba informed Linde about the initiative to create the Crimean Platform and invited Sweden to join its activities.

Natalia Tolub