Montenegro, as a leader in the European integration process and a responsible member of NATO, strongly supports Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union (EU) and NATO, which further strengthens existing ties and establishes interstate friendship, announced the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Ambassador Periša Kastratović.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Kastratović participated in the "Ukraine - Southeast Europe" ministerial meeting in Kiev, at the invitation of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha.
The statement added that Kastratović pointed to the political, military, humanitarian and financial assistance that Montenegro has continuously provided to Ukraine in dealing with the consequences of the aggression, both bilaterally and through numerous multilateral mechanisms.
"He recalled that Montenegro has adopted all packages of restrictive measures introduced by the EU against the Russian Federation, thus aligning itself fully with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. He concluded that Montenegro, as a leader in the European integration process and a responsible member of NATO, strongly supports Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and the Alliance, which further strengthens existing ties and establishes interstate friendship," the statement reads.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that during his stay in Kiev, Kastratović, along with other high-ranking officials, laid a wreath at the Wall of Remembrance for War Victims.
It is also stated that meetings were organized as part of the program with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that Ukrainian officials expressed gratitude to the countries of Southeast Europe for their support in defending Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, based on the principles of international law.
"Russian aggression against Ukraine represents not only an attack on a sovereign state, a member of the United Nations, but also an attack on the values of democracy, an attempt to undermine the global order based on law and the right to self-determination. Therefore, support for Ukraine represents consistency in defending the fundamental postulates of the UN Charter," the addresses emphasized.
The statement also states that at a plenary meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sibiha, officials from Southeast European countries informed about activities undertaken in the previous, almost three years, to strengthen Ukraine's position in repelling Russian military aggression.
"It was noted that Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic perspective remains the optimal framework for its reconstruction after the establishment of peace and stability within internationally recognized borders. It was concluded that a free, prosperous and peaceful Ukraine represents the cornerstone of a free, peaceful and prosperous Europe," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The statement also states that the participants of the ministerial meeting adopted a Joint Statement, and that the visit was an opportunity for representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries of Southeast Europe to learn about the latest technological achievements of the Ukrainian military industry, developed for the purpose of deterring and defending against Russian military aggression.
"In addition to Montenegro, representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey also participated," the MFA statement said.
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