On November 23, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, a delegation of Ministers for European Affairs visited Ukraine.

In particular, the meeting was attended by State Secretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania Daniela Gitman, Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution at the Federal Chancellery of Austria Karoline Edtstadler, State Secretary for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Gunda Reire, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein Dominik Hasler, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Jovita Neliupšienė, Vice-President of the European Parliament Nicola Beer, and Minister of State for Europe and Climate of Germany Anna Lührmann.

The parties discussed Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership, deepening integration, sanctions pressure on russia, as well as bringing russian war criminals to justice for their crimes.

Olha Stefanishyna thanked the European partners for the visit in such a format, which, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, testifies to the unity of European support for Ukraine.

“Ukraine is moving at a good pace in implementing recommendations of the European Commission. We expect that evaluation of the progress will take place in 2023 in the shortest possible time, once we have implemented all the necessary decisions. It is important to maintain the European integration momentum in the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers in the development and adoption of integration legislation,” said Olha Stefanishyna and added that, just like during completion of the questionnaire, today there is a synergy between the government and civil society in drafting the legislation.

In turn, the Ministers for European Affairs emphasized their support for Ukraine’s desire to become part of the European family. They also noted the speed of European integration reforms despite the war.

Olha Stefanishyna called on European partners to increase sanctions pressure on russia, in particular to further limit the military potential of the aggressor country. The participants of the meeting discussed bringing russian war criminals to justice.

“russian troops have committed all possible crimes against civilians in the occupied territories of Ukraine. We will be grateful for all your legal expertise that will allow bringing these people to justice. This is important for the restoration of justice and peace in Europe,” Olha Stefanishyna said.

For their part, representatives of the European countries assured Ukraine of their readiness to support it on this path. In particular, Austria will allocate 100 thousand euros to the International Criminal Court, as well as 105 thousand euros to the EU EUAM mission for mobile investigation laboratories and training in digital forensics. Liechtenstein will allocate 250 thousand Swiss francs for measures to prosecute the most serious crimes committed in Ukraine.

In addition, Germany will provide 40 million euros in humanitarian aid for Ukraine. And Romania will donate 300 thousand euros for the winter period.