Ukraine is implementing the green course even during the russian aggression. This was the overarching message of the historic joint meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the European Commission College in Kyiv. Sustainable development was discussed by our European partners, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, and all those working on the concept of Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

During the meeting, Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, spoke about cooperation with the EU, the implementation of the Green Deal, and European integration in the environmental sector.

“The Green Deal is not only about environmental policy, but also about absolutely all spheres of life. We highly appreciate that Ukraine has been granted EU candidate status and that it is not just symbolic. Our cooperation has expanded significantly,” the Minister emphasized.

Ruslan Strilets stressed the importance of creating a Global Platform for Assessing Environmental Damage from War, an initiative announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the COP27 Climate Conference. He noted that Ukraine expected support from the EU in creating a joint platform.

“The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources has stepped up its work on key environmental reforms under the EU Association Agreement. In 2022, a number of reform laws and regulations were approved,” the Minister said.

He reminded that in December 2022, during COP15, together with European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, and the Ministers of Environment of Moldova and Romania, agreements were reached to start cooperation on sustainable management of the Danube River Basin.

Moreover, in 2022, thanks to the support of European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, Ukraine joined the LIFE program. This allows us to apply for participation in environmental projects with co-financing from the EU.

Ruslan Strilets thanked the EU for its unprecedented support of Ukraine during the full-scale aggression of the russian federation. In particular, for granting Ukraine the EU candidate status.

“These European integration days in Kyiv are special not only because of the visits of distinguished guests. In 2023, it will be 10 years since the beginning of Euromaidan. In 3 weeks, it will be exactly one year since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainians not only feel like Europeans, but also fight for their European future with arms in hand,” the Minister emphasized.