Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Olena Zerkal met today with the Speaker of the Belgian Senate Christine Defraigne and the Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives of Belgium Dirk Van der Maelen.

During these meetings discussions were focused on the present security situation in and around Ukraine which remains tense due to continued provocations by the combined Russian-separatist forces, the need to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia to stop Russia’s aggressive action and regain Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, responding to brand new security challenges including massive Russian propaganda and hybrid war, facilitating early release of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and Crimea, prospects for introduction of fully operational visa-free regime to Ukrainian citizens. Outstanding challenges for the European Union were also discussed.

Both Belgian Senate Speaker Christine Defraigne and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dirk Van der Maelen reiterated their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.The attempted illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russia Federation was unequivocally condemned. The parties agreed that enhanced bilateral inter-parliamentary exchanges at all levels will substantially contribute to overall upgrading relations between Ukraine and Belgium.