UA
FR
DEMinister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba spoke about Ukraine’s foreign policy strategy in Central Europe.
“Strengthening ties with Central Europe, strengthening cooperation with neighbouring EU and NATO member states contributes to strengthening the security, prosperity, and development of Ukraine,” said Dmytro Kuleba.
He emphasized that the Transcarpathian region naturally fits into the political, economic, and cultural landscape of Central Europe, which has always been distinguished by its diversity: “Transcarpathia is a diverse, multinational Ukrainian region. Its diversity makes Ukraine stronger.”
Kuleba said that over the past year and a half Ukraine has formed a number of new regional alliances with our closest partners: the Lublin Triangle with Poland and Lithuania, the Associated Trio with Georgia and Moldova, and the Quadriga with Turkey. According to the Minister, these new, flexible alliances bring additional security, freedom, and prosperity to the Baltic and Black Sea region and Ukraine as an integral part of it.
“This year, Ukraine was represented for the first time at the ministerial meeting of the Central European Five, which includes Austria, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. For the first time, our country took part in a meeting of NATO allies on the eastern flank – Poland, Romania, and Turkey, and became the first non-EU country to take the chairmanship of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region,” said the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Kuleba announced that he is working on Ukraine’s accession to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. According to him, Ukraine can make a significant contribution to the development of transport and infrastructure networks within the road and railway corridor “Baltic – Black Sea.”
He stated that Ukraine and its partners are proposing that the European Union develop and launch a new Strategy for the Carpathian Region: “This initiative could unite our efforts for the sustainable development of the Carpathian region.”
The Head of Ukrainian diplomacy named the priorities of further work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Central European direction: strengthening energy security of our state, development of common aviation space, diversification of inland waterways, attraction of new investments, and cybersecurity.
According to him, the development of Transcarpathia will consolidate the region and create a stronger, more efficient, and prosperous Europe.
“Ukraine has defined its future as the equal among equals in Central Europe. Europe is our home. This is where we were born and raised. It is time for Europe and each of us to draw up a clear roadmap for Ukraine to finally join NATO and the EU and start writing a new history – the history of our common European success,” the Minister concluded.
Natalia Tolub
