On February 11, as part of a visit of the Ukrainian Government delegation to the EU institutions for a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova met with the newly appointed Secretary General of the European External Action Service Stefano Sannino.

The EEAS senior official assured Ukraine remains among the priority areas of work of the EU diplomatic service.

Stefano Sannino informed Emine Dzhaparova of the results of a recent visit of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to Russia and made note of the EU's firm position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The First Deputy Minister brought attention to large-scale violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. She noted that the continuation of EU sectoral sanctions and the application of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime would help bring Russian Federation to justice.

The parties discussed involvement of the EU in the activities of the Crimean Platform, in particular, the participation of the EU institutions representatives in its Inaugural Summit on August 23 this year in Kyiv.

Stefano Sannino confirmed the EU's commitment to further assist Ukraine in obtaining a coronavirus vaccine and overcoming the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic.

The parties discussed the ambitious agenda of relations between Ukraine and the EU in order to strengthen the political association and economic integration of our country to the EU, in particular in the context of prospects for updating certain provisions of the Association Agreement and promoting sectoral cooperation. The diplomats agreed on a plan of further high-level contacts between Ukraine and the EU, including the forthcoming visit of European Council President Charles Michel to Ukraine.

The First Deputy Minister and the Secretary General paid special attention to joint steps of Ukraine and the EU to strengthen cooperation in the field of foreign policy convergence and in the field of security and defense.