Slovak MPs from European Affairs Committee visit Ukraine for first time

A delegation of members of the Slovak parliament's European Affairs Committee has visited Ukraine for the first time and met with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities.

According to the press service of the Ukrainian parliament), the delegation was led by Juraj Ferančák, Chair of the European Affairs Committee and a representative of the ruling coalition party Hlas.

The MPs began their visit by joining their Ukrainian counterparts in honouring fallen soldiers at the Wall of Remembrance near St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, after which they met with the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada and members of relevant committees.

The Slovak politicians expressed support for Ukraine's European integration course and interest in strengthening cooperation at the level of communities. They also confirmed Slovakia's readiness to assist Ukraine in the EU integration process by sharing its own experience.

The Slovak delegation, together with members of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU, also visited sites in Kyiv hit by Russian missiles and drones.

"They were very impressed by what they saw in the ruins and the human stories they heard," said Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU.

"We believe that those who came here for the first time will continue to find additional arguments for their societies that this is a common war and why we need to force Russia to make peace, rather than persuade it to engage in some kind of dialogue," she added.

In September, during a visit to the city of Uzhhorod in Zakarpattia Oblast (Transcarpathia) in Ukraine's west, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Slovakia supports Ukraine's accession to the EU and is ready to share its experience of joining the Union.

In January, a delegation from Slovakia's opposition party Progressive Slovakia also visited Ukraine.