"We are seeing good dynamics of bilateral relations between  Ukraine and Norway in various fields," emphasized Minister of Foreign  Affairs of Norway Ine Eriksen Søreide after the talks held with Minister for  Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin on September 4, 2018.

Both Ministers have highly evaluated the current state of the  bilateral relations, in particular, an active political dialogue,  sustainable growing of the bilateral trade turnover (in 2017 – by 30%,  after 6 months of 2018 – by additional 4%), increasing of the Norwegian  investments into Ukrainian economy (by 15% in comparison to the data of  2017). It was also noted a considerable practical assistance of Norway  to the Ukraine’s reform process.

According to Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, relevant efforts made by the  Ukrainian authorities in reform implementation process are visible in  Norway. Thus, it facilitates the interest of the Norwegian businesses  with regard to Ukraine.
Minister Pavlo Klimkin highlighted the  importance of deepening cooperation in cultural and educational spheres,  in particular, based on the pages from common history. As an example,  it was mentioned Norwegian project of modernization the Odesa Film  Studio, as well as a growing number of artistic editions of the  Ukrainian authors in Norway and, respectively, the Norwegian authors in  Ukraine. Minister Klimkin and Minister Søreide expressed support to the  initiative of cooperation in the health care sphere, particularly, by  involving Norwegian assistance in organizing the rehabilitation process  with accordance to the relevant Norwegian standards.

Minister Pavlo Klimkin informed the Norwegian counterpart on the  current security situation in Donbas because of the Russian aggression.  He appreciated Norway's support for the sovereignty and territorial  integrity of our state and the condemnation of the Russia’s ongoing  aggression. Minister Klimkin especially thanked Minister Søreide for the  decision to visit territories at the so-called “dividing line” in order  to familiarize with the consequences and actual scope of the Russian  aggression.

The attention of the Norwegian side was drawn to the Kremlin's  repressive policies in the temporarily occupied Crimea, primarily  related to the Crimean Tatars. In addition, Minister Pavlo Klimkin  informed about Russia's provocations against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov.

Both Ministers also agreed to intensify mutual engagement, including  in the framework of international formats, in order to counter  effectively the Russian threats in the field of cyber security, and  interference in domestic affairs with the usage of information  technologies.