On September 24, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Kryklii and Minister of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic Andrej Doležal signed a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on the provision of aviation maintenance services by Ukrainian service providers in a certain part of Slovakia's airspace relative to Uzhhorod Airport. The conclusion of the agreement will allow to restore the full functioning of the airport and to launch air travel of Zakarpattia region with other regions of Ukraine, as well as with foreign countries.

The said agreement was inked during the official visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Slovak Republic.

"Due to the geographical and other features of Uzhhorod airport, which is located almost on the border with Slovakia, departure and landing at the airport is impossible without the use of the territory of this state. The term of the previous intergovernmental agreement, which settled this issue, has expired, and we exerted every effort with the Slovak side to renew the arrangements for the full launch of the airport. We are grateful to the Government of the Slovak Republic for their cooperation and look forward to further fruitful work, "Vladyslav Kryklii commented on signing the agreement.

The Minister emphasized that the signing of this agreement will also help strengthen mutual bilateral relations in the field of civil aviation between Ukraine and Slovakia and in terms of expanding the capabilities of international air transportation. Vladyslav Kryklii also expressed hope for the speedy completion of the coordination of technical issues related to the implementation of the agreement and the signing of the Implementation Protocols by the parties within a month.

The agreement was initialled by both countries during the talks in Kyiv on December 18 last year. The document takes into account the security and defence aspects arising from Slovakia's membership in NATO, as well as the fact that the common Ukrainian-Slovak border is also the Alliance's external border.

The Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period and shall enter into force on the date of receipt by diplomatic channels of the last written notice of completion by the Contracting Parties of all domestic procedures necessary for its entry into force.

It should be noted that on June 10, the Government at its meeting authorized the Minister of Infrastructure Vladislav Kryklii to sign the said agreement on behalf of the Ukrainian side.