Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal
On July 4, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the situation of the Russian war against Ukraine, the impact of the war on Ukraine's economy and international trade, possibilities to export the Ukrainian grain, further steps after Ukraine is granted the EU Candidate status, Lithuania's support for Ukraine based on its urgent needs and implementation of the European integration reforms.
Ms Šimonytė congratulated Mr Shmyhal on the EU's historic decision to grant Ukraine the EU Candidate status, noting the incredible mobilisation of the Ukrainian government and institutions, their ability to properly fill in the EU questionnaire in record time in the midst of the ongoing war.
‘It is essential to seize this moment of mobilisation and political will to implement reforms decisively, and Lithuania stands ready to continue and strengthen the expert support already provided. Lithuania is well aware of Ukraine's financial needs. We contribute to the efforts of the international community and provide financial aid to Ukraine, both by joining instruments established by international institutions and on a bilateral basis’, emphasized Prime Minister.
Lithuania's total aid, including support for the war refugees, already exceeds half a billion Euros. A bilateral grant of 2 million Euros will soon be transferred to Ukraine for humanitarian aid to Ukrainians fleeing the war zones and moving to the west of the country.
In Lugano, Ukraine presented a reconstruction plan for the country, to which Lithuanian experts contributed as well.
Ms Šimonytė welcomed Ukraine's ambition to rebuild the country while implementing reforms.