Premier Laschet and President Volodymyr Selenskyj – Picture by Land NRW, Phil Dera
Sunday, 11 July 2021, Berlin, Germany: North Rhine-Westphalia’s Premier Armin Laschet received the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, for talks at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in the German capital.
Premier Armin Laschet said during the bilateral meeting: “Ukraine is an important partner in our immediate European neighbourhood. We appreciate the clear orientation towards Europe, and have a high interest in geopolitical stability, sovereignty and modernisation in Ukraine. That is why we support Ukraine’s reform efforts.”
With regard to Crimea and the situation in the east of the country, Premier Laschet emphasized the position of the state government: “The annexation of Crimea by Russia, which is contrary to international law, and the conflict in eastern Ukraine must come to a swift end. Ukrainian sovereignty over the territory of Crimea and the Donbass must be restored. For this, the ceasefire in the Donbass must be permanently respected and the principle of inviolability of borders must be respected again by all parties.”
During the talks, Premier Laschet and President Zelensky also discussed ways to deepen economic relations between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ukraine.
For further information:
Government of NRW: https://www.mbei.nrw/de/ministerpraesident-armin-laschet-geopolitische-stabilitaet-und-reformkurs-der-ukraine-unterstuetzen
Ukrainian Presidency: https://www.president.gov.ua/en
