On 18 April, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Mischenko held a meeting with a delegation of members of the Austrian National Council.

Olexander Mischenko thanked Austria for its assistance to Ukraine in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion and informed about the consequences of the aggressor's recent missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. The Austrian side expressed its condolences to the victims and reaffirmed its unequivocal support for Ukraine.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the bilateral agenda and concrete steps for further assistance to Ukraine, political support on the path to EU membership, expansion of economic partnership, and strengthening of interregional cooperation.

The parties paid special attention to humanitarian initiatives and support for affected Ukrainians, including the organisation of summer holidays for Ukrainian children in Austria. The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude for the resolution recently adopted by the Lower House of the Austrian Parliament on Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

The Austrian MPs reported on the launch and implementation of a number of initiatives aimed at increasing practical assistance to Ukraine. The interlocutors expressed positive expectations for the future activities of the Ukraine Friendship Group in the Austrian Parliament, which will soon begin its work.

The participants of the meeting noted the necessity of increasing and filling the bilateral cooperation between Ukrainian and Austrian universities with practical content. Such cooperation could include the expansion of bilateral student exchange programmes, summer schools, language courses, internships or joint training modules, and the organisation of joint youth studies and research projects. 

The two sides stressed the importance of further bilateral coordination within international organisations, in particular to bring Russia to justice and restore respect for international law.