On May 5, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa participated in the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2023–2026 “Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction,” which took place in Kyiv.

In her address, the Deputy Minister emphasized that despite Ukraine resisting full-scale Russian aggression for the fifth year, our state continues on the path of democratic reforms and moves toward acquiring full membership in the European Union. In this regard, the diplomat noted the vital role of the Council of Europe and its Action Plan for Ukraine in supporting our state's democratic institutions.

Mariana Betsa dedicated special attention to the issue of punishing Russia for the crimes committed: "Today, the Council of Europe acts as the architect of a system of comprehensive accountability for the aggression against Ukraine. We expect that at the ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 14–15, a decision will be made to adopt the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. I am convinced that through joint efforts, we will ensure that the aggressor is held accountable and justice is achieved for the victims."

The event was attended by a Council of Europe delegation led by Claus Neukirch, Director of the Directorate of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe, as well as representatives of Ukrainian state authorities, local self-government, and civil society.

The participants reviewed the implementation status of ongoing projects within the framework of the Action Plan, particularly in the context of their role in overcoming the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine and supporting European integration processes in Ukraine.

During the dialogue, the representatives of Ukraine emphasized the extremely important role of the Council of Europe in Ukraine's recovery process, the implementation of necessary reforms, the strengthening of democratic governance, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In their turn, the representatives of the Council of Europe noted the constructive cooperation with the Ukrainian side and their readiness to continue actively collaborating to achieve the effective implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine.