On Friday, November 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha received his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavský in Kyiv.

The Foreign Ministers discussed in detail russia's recent menacing steps to expand the war and ways to counter them. First and foremost, they discussed the involvement of North Korean troops and the launch of an experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine.

"The world must respond decisively to russia's threats, nuclear blackmail and involvement of foreign military in its unlawful aggression," emphasized Andrii Sybiha. "Ukraine will discuss with partner countries ways to counteract this escalation during the Ukraine-NATO emergency meeting".

The Ministers discussed further defense cooperation, including the development of the Czech initiative aimed at procuring ammunition for Ukraine. They also talked over strengthening sanctions pressure on the aggressor and introducing new strict restrictions against industries that feed the russian military economy, primarily metallurgy and the "shadow fleet."

Andrii Sybiha thanked the Czech Republic for supporting Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO, the Peace Formula and the Victory Plan, energy assistance and patronage over the recovery of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

"We also focused on joint steps in the implementation of the Peace Formula and the Victory Plan. I expressed gratitude to my Czech colleague for the Czech Republic's active participation in the diplomatic efforts to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace," said Andrii Sybiha. "We appreciate this year's contribution to the 'Grain from Ukraine' initiative, which facilitates to strengthening food security.

The Foreign Minister urged his Czech counterpart to consider the possibility of establishing public Ukrainian-Czech bilingual schools for Ukrainian children in the Czech Republic.

A noteworthy element of the visit was the presentation of archival diplomatic documents of the Ukrainian People's Republic, which relate to bilateral relations between the two countries, including the activities of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Prague.

Presenting the exhibition to his Czech counterpart, Andrii Sybiha emphasized that diplomatic and friendly relations between Ukraine and the Czech Republic had been based on close interpersonal and diplomatic contacts for centuries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is grateful to Head of the State Archival Service Anatolii Khromov and Director of the Central State Archives of Supreme Bodies of Power and Government Larysa Levchenko for preparing the presentation materials.