March 25, 2021, Kyiv – The ordinary round of Moldovan-Ukrainian inter-ministerial political consultations took place at the level of State Secretary / Deputy Foreign Minister in the capital of Ukraine. The Moldovan delegation was led by the secretary of State Dumitru Socolan, the Ukrainian counterparts – by the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Vasyl Bodnar. The agenda included main issues in Moldovan-Ukrainian relations and several questions both on the regional and international plan.
The officials noted the positive dynamics of the bilateral dialogue, confirming the readiness of both sides to take full advantage of the existing potential for collaboration. The importance of continuing high-level working contacts, including mutual visits, was noted. In the same context, the joint actions for the next period were negotiated regarding the practical realization of the discussed agreements during the recent official visit of the President of the Republic of Moldova to Ukraine in January.
The diplomats stressed the need to enhance the work on the line of the committees and domain groups on various issues on the bilateral agenda, including the interaction of the state policy, the regulation of property relations, the protection of the ecology of the river, the implementation of infrastructure projects and cooperation in the field of trade, economic and humanitarian area.
The interlocutors noted that the European vector consistently promoted by the Chișinău and Kyiv authorities opens up additional opportunities for the intensification of Moldovan-Ukrainian cooperation, including possible assistance from European partners in the implementation of projects of common interest for both countries. On this dimension, an exchange of views on the developments in the dialogue with the European Union was carried out, noting the existence of several positions and close approaches aimed at the realization by the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine of their European agendas.
Discussing regional security issues, the parties reconfirmed their mutual support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine within their internationally recognized borders.
The officials also reviewed the progress in the epidemiological situation in both states in the context of actions being undertaken at the national level to overcome the extremely serious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the implementation of the vaccination process and the difficulties encountered in this path.
Highly appreciating the format of Moldovan-Ukrainian political consultations along the lines of foreign ministries to identify practical ways of regulating bilateral issues and coordinate joint actions in this regard, the parties agreed to continue this useful exercise.
The program of the visit to Kyiv of the Moldovan delegation also included a meeting with Victor Kryzhanovsky, Ukraine's special representative for Transnistrian settlement, during which various issues related to recent developments in the negotiation process were addressed, as well as Ukraine's active role as mediator in efforts to identify a lasting political solution to this conflict.
