REUTERS

Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba has noted that the European Union, within the framework of the Eastern Partnership initiative, should take into account the interests of its Eastern partners, including Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Kuleba held a video conference call with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ann Linde, MFA Ukraine's press service reports.

On the eve of a video conference of the Eastern Partnership foreign ministers, scheduled for June 11, the interlocutors discussed issues of Sweden's support for Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

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Kuleba noted the importance of consolidating efforts to prepare an ambitious Joint Declaration of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit on the principles of joint ownership and strategic nature of the initiative, taking into account the interests of Eastern partners.

Ukraine's top diplomat briefed his Swedish counterpart on the security situation in the country's temporarily occupied territories, about the developments in the Normandy Four negotiations, and the process of the implementation of Minsk agreements.

Read alsoNo constructiveness on Russia's side to achieve peace in Donbas – FM Kuleba

The foreign minister also noted that the issues of combating armed aggression by the Russian Federation and joint steps to de-occupy Crimea should remain a priority on the OSCE agenda.

"I am convinced that the high level of Swedish diplomacy will effectively and consistently protect the principles and norms that underpin the architecture of European security and the activities of the OSCE during the Swedish chairmanship in 2021," Kuleba emphasized.

In turn, the Swedish foreign minister noted progress in reform implementation in Ukraine, including the adoption of a law on the land market. The entry to the Ukrainian market of major Swedish brands, such as IKEA, is a testament to Ukraine's success on this path.

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Sweden expressed their intention to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries and make efforts to minimize the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the international economy.

As UNIAN reported earlier, foreign ministers of the six members of the Eastern Partnership and the leadership of the European Union will hold an informal video conference on June 11.

In turn, the leaders of 27 countries – members of the European Union – and six states that are part of the Eastern Partnership will hold a video conference on June 18. At the same time, an in-person meeting of leaders within the summit's framework is scheduled for early 2021.

On April 21, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the Eastern Partnership initiative of the European Union should contribute to Ukraine's gradual integration into the EU's internal market.