Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze in Brussels: Pressure on Russia should be continued until all its violations are eliminated

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze in Brussels met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Didier Reynders.

The sides discussed the Ukrainian-Belgium bilateral dialogue, trade and economic partnership, military cooperation and interaction of within the framework of international institutions.

While discussing trade cooperation, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that in 2018 the trade turnover  between Ukraine and Belgium increased by 18%, compared to 2017, and amounted to over $1 billion  and she added that such a revival of trade relations is the result of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between Ukraine. The parties positively assessed the results of the fourth meeting of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Financial Cooperation. It was noted that the next practical step should be the organization of economic and trade missions of the two countries.

During the meeting, the issue of possible "patronage" of EU member states over Ukrainian cities affected by the occupation of Donbas was also touched upon.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze praised accession of Belgium to the UN General Assembly Declaration on the commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor and urged the representatives of the Belgian Government to endorse the resolution on the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.

The sides tackled prospects of Ukrainian-Belgium cooperation and counteraction to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine were discussed in the context of non-permanent membership of Belgium of the United Nations  Security Council.

"Political pressure on Russia should be continued until all its violations  will not be eradicated in particular, within the framework of the Minsk agreements. I am convinced that Russian armed aggression should remain on the agenda of the UN Security Council, as it is a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations", Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

Apart from that, the parties tackled fruitful cooperation in the international arena. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze  praised staunchest Belgium’s stance  on supporting United Nations resolutions on independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemning the Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Didier Reynders stressed the importance of completing the investigation into the MH17 disaster.