Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko took part in joint consultations between the Governments of Ukraine and Slovakia
Today, on April 11, Ukrainian and Slovak delegations headed by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico took part in important consultations between the governments of both countries.
A number of topical issues aimed at strengthening cooperation, improving border security and humanitarian demining were discussed during the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhalpersonally thanked the Government of Slovakia for its comprehensive assistance in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion and stated that support of the democratic world is critically important for Ukraine during the war.
"Good neighborliness does not lose its relevance. At the moment, it is crucial and vital for us. And of course, when a neighbor helps, it makes life easier for a country that is in a state of full-scale war. We are grateful to Slovakia and the Slovak people for their support of Ukraine by recognizing our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are also grateful for the support in the humanitarian, energy and military spheres. We are grateful for training, treatment of our military and acceptance of our people who have been forced to become refugees," emphasized Denys Shmyhal.
In turn, Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko told international partners about the increasing number of attacks by the Russian army on critical infrastructure and Ukraine's need for protection:
"The enemy is terrorizing our people every day, attacking civilian infrastructure. And next winter, if we do not stop it, we will have big problems. If the enemy breaks through our defenses somewhere, we do not know where they will stop," said Ihor Klymenko.
In response, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Slovakia, Matúš Šutaj Eštok, assured that his country understands all the challenges faced by the Government of Ukraine due to the Russian invasion and emphasized that official Bratislava will continue to support us in our fight for independence:
"Today's meeting is an example of the start of a dialogue. We are confident that our bilateral relations will only develop. For my part, I would like to emphasize that security remains the most important issue for us, and we must work fruitfully in this direction and seek solutions to these challenges together."
Another key topic was cooperation in the development of checkpoints and the introduction of joint border control. In particular, the development and modernization of the Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké border crossing point was discussed on both the Ukrainian and Slovak sides.
The second important topic was the security situation in Ukraine and the fight against crime.
"Fruitful cooperation between the agencies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and Slovakia is an effective tool for preventing cross-border crime. Thanks to the constant exchange of information and operational cooperation, we are able to respond to current challenges," said Ihor Klymenko.
The parties paid special attention to the implementation of the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine on radiation and nuclear safety. In particular, the State Border Guard Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Slovakia signed an agreement on interaction and cooperation in the field of radiation, chemical, biological and nuclear safety at the border.
Particular attention was paid to the provisions on humanitarian demining, in particular, the initiative to continue supplying equipment by the Slovak side as part of international technical assistance. Thanks to this initiative, more demining equipment will be provided to Ukraine to ensure the safety and protection of the population from explosive ordnance.
"I would like to thank your Government for two Bozena mechanized demining machines, which will be transferred to Kherson region after their manufacture and delivery. Such assistance is a significant contribution to improving the safety of our sappers and accelerating the demining process in this region," said the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko.
The consultations between Ukraine and Slovakia reflect the importance of close cooperation and joint efforts in ensuring security and stability in the country. The determination of both countries to continue cooperation demonstrates their readiness to overcome challenges and threats together.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
