On August 8, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, President of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, Mariana Betsa, held a meeting with Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of the UNESCO Antenna Office in Ukraine.

The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation between Ukraine and UNESCO in all areas of the Organisation’s activities, focusing, in particular, on the implementation in Ukraine of projects in the field of cultural heritage protection, development of UNESCO learning cities, education, critical thinking for youth, protection of journalists and the fight against disinformation.

The discussion of the prospects for cooperation between Ukraine and UNESCO for 2025-2026 confirmed mutual readiness to strengthen partnership to overcome serious challenges that Ukraine faces in the context of a full-scale aggressive war by the Russian Federation.

“Crimes against culture are a deliberate element of the Russian military strategy. Responsibility for their commission must be inevitable for the aggressor. And we, in turn, appreciate any assistance from UNESCO in overcoming the consequences of these crimes,” emphasized Mariana Betsa.

The head of the UNESCO Antenna Office in Ukraine, in turn, confirmed the intentions of the Organisation to continue directing efforts to support the restoration of cultural sites that have been damaged and destroyed as a result of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.