L-R: Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Credit: MAEE

Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn today undertook a working visit to Kiev, Ukraine.

During his visit to Kiev, Minister Asselborn participated in working meetings with Hanna Hopko, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Vitalii Korchyk, President of the Ukraine-Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Verkovna Rada, the Parliament, as well as with his counterpart Pavlo Klimkin.

Discussions in Ukraine aimed to take stock of bilateral relations and to discuss the process of implementing reforms in Ukraine, particularly in the context of the upcoming elections, including the presidential election on 31 March and the legislative elections on 27 October 2019.

Discussions with the Ukrainian authorities also helped to address the crisis in eastern Ukraine, as well as the illegal annexation of Crimea. In this context, Minister Asselborn stated that "Luxembourg remains steadfast in its support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its recognised international borders and for the full implementation of the agreements of Minsk". Regretting the volatile security situation in the East, the Luxembourg Minister was particularly concerned about the militarisation of the Crimean peninsula and the Black Sea and Asov. 

Jean Asselborn has also confirmed a bilateral humanitarian assistance amounting to €500,000 in 2019 which adds to a total commitment of the Grand Duchy of more than €2.5 million since the beginning of the crisis. 

While recalling the EU's support for reform processes in Ukraine, Minister Asselborn underlined the efforts already made while encouraging the Ukrainian authorities to pursue reforms with determination, particularly in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption, as well as the electoral law through the implementation of the OSCE-ODIHR recommendations, with the aim of making them sustainable and irreversible.

With regard to the bilateral relations between the Grand Duchy and Ukraine, Minister Asselborn expressed confidence in the possibility of reinforcing these excellent relations, more particularly by exploring the possibility of increased Luxembourgish investment in Ukraine.