Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting with Austria’s Deputy Minister for European and International Affairs and Special Commissioner for Ukraine’s Recovery Elisabeth Kornfeind.
The key topic of discussion was Ukraine’s security and humanitarian situation, particularly the condition and needs of critical infrastructure amid ongoing Russian attacks.
"We are grateful to Austria for providing over €800 million in humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people – both bilaterally and through international organizations. We count on Austria to expand its support this year, especially in the areas of energy, humanitarian demining, shelter construction, and recovery," Ihor Zhovkva said.
Special attention was given to Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. The Deputy Head of the Office of the President thanked Austria for supporting Ukraine's European integration course and spoke about the significant progress in the process of screening Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU legislation.
"Ukraine is actively implementing the necessary reforms and legislation for EU membership. We are committed to maintaining a high pace in meeting all requirements for a successful negotiation process. EU membership is a prerequisite for lasting peace in our country. We count on Austria’s unwavering expert and political support along this path," he emphasized.
Ihor Zhovkva and Elisabeth Kornfeind also discussed potential areas for expanding EU sanctions against Russia, as well as the use of frozen Russian assets in the EU to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and strengthen its defense capabilities.