During a working visit to Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna discussed with EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič the threats to regional stability posed by the migration crisis provoked by Belarus at the EU border.

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister briefed on the security situation on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border and the measures taken by Ukraine. The parties agreed to intensify the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in order to prevent emergencies that may arise on the border between Ukraine and Belarus.

"Today, Ukraine and the EU face a number of serious challenges posed by their eastern neighbors. They bear an openly military nature or appear disguised hybrid threats. Unfortunately, these countries use people as a tool to achieve their geopolitical goals. Just as inflating gas prices has nothing to do with the market situation, it is outright geopolitics. The EU should counteract these provocations and build a strong system of resilience to such challenges," said Olha Stefanishyna.

For his part, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said that the gas crisis would only accelerate Europe's transition from fossil fuels to alternative fuels.

The participants of the meeting also discussed the humanitarian situation in Donbas, in particular the problems faced by Ukrainians living in the occupied territories.