On October 10, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mariana Betsa, held a meeting with a delegation from the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

At the beginning of the discussion, the PACE delegation strongly condemned Russia’s massive missile strike on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including in the capital of our state, carried out by the aggressor state.

The Deputy Minister thanked Ukraine’s partners in the Council of Europe for their unwavering support amid Russia’s ongoing aggression, as well as for their assistance in implementing reforms, strengthening democratic institutions, and their consistent solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Mariana Betsa emphasized that Ukraine remains fully committed to its European path — the country has fulfilled all the technical requirements for opening the first cluster in the EU accession negotiations. Aligning with EU standards and reinforcing institutional resilience remain Ukraine’s top priorities. She also underscored that ensuring a dynamic accession process to the EU is a strategic foundation for broader peace efforts and one of the guarantees of security.

The participants also exchanged views on the urgent need for the unconditional return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, as well as on consolidating international efforts to ensure the full and effective launch of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

The interlocutors agreed to continue strengthening the support that the Council of Europe provides to Ukraine on its path toward European integration, as well as in facing the unprecedented challenges caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine.