Ways for peaceful settlement of a situation in Donbas, issues pertaining to Crimea and the Sea of Azov are and will be priorities for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). This was stated by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák in the course of a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman. Slovakia took over OSCE chairmanship and Kyiv became one of the first European capitals visited by the Slovak Foreign Minister as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

According to Miroslav Lajčák, the security of Ukraine is an essential component of the security architecture of the whole Europe. "I'm glad to visit Ukraine. This is also important for our bilateral relations, and in the context of our OSCE chairmanship. The question of Ukraine is a priority", Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia said.

In turn, Volodymyr Groysman stressed that the situation in Ukraine today can not be considered as a separate issues. It can be viewed as an issue of pan-European importance. "It is necessary to raise questions not only Donbas and Crimea issues, but also  a question of the Sea of Azov. Everything that happens there should receive an appropriate international response. This is a creeping occupation of the Sea. Of Azov and there should be an adequate world response," the Prime Minister stated.

He placed a special emphasis on the need to increase pressure on the aggressor country to return captured Ukrainian seamen home. "Ukrainian sailors must return home, thus pressure should be seriously stepped up (on the aggressor), " Volodymyr Groysman added.

 During the talks, the parties also touched upon cooperation in different fields. "We praise the level of dialogue we have. We have great prospects in economic sphere. We are open to cooperation, "the Head of Government noted.

The interlocutors stressed that during the 10 months of 2018 the volume of bilateral trade between Ukraine and Slovakia exceeded $ 1 billion- with a positive for Ukraine balance. At the moment, Slovakia is among the top 20 European trade partners. Energy projects are of great interest to both countries, because energy security was and is a strategic priority for Ukraine as well. Equally important is cooperation in the field of logistics and transit of goods, in the development of mining industry, energy efficiency, support of small and medium-sized businesses as well as in the development of regional cooperation.