"The United Kingdom is determined to continue to support Ukraine, both through practical assistance and through the implementation of Ukrainian initiatives within the framework of international structures"- assured the State Minister for International Development of the UK Harriett Baldwin, who is also the State Minister for Africa for the Foreign Office, during a meeting with Olena Zerkal, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on European Integration.

The parties paid special attention to the situation in the Black and Azov Seas after the Russian aggression against the Ukrainian Navy. Mrs. Zerkal also informed the interlocutor  with the current situation in the Azov-Black Sea region, related with illegal navigation restrictions by Russia, the blockade of Ukrainian ports, as well as active and deliberate actions of the Russian Federation  aimed at undermining the economic infrastructure and destabilizing the social situation.

The parties agreed to further mobilization of joint efforts to release Ukrainian POW servicemen captured in the Kerch Strait.

Separately, the issue of legislative regulation of demining activities in Ukraine was discussed.  In particular, since 2016, experts from the British Fund "Halo Trust" have demined more than 25 million square meters of territory in the east of Ukraine. The parties agreed that one of the important steps forward in this area was the adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On Demining Activities in Ukraine", which entered into force on January 25 this year.

The parties noted the deepening of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Among other points were discussed issues of Ukrainian-British cooperation in countering Russian intrusion in the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine, as well as visa issues in connection with the BREXIT.