Shmyhal calls meeting in Michalovce, Slovakia, "historic"

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has called the meeting in Michalovce, Slovakia, where government consultations between Ukraine and Slovakia are taking place on Thursday, "historic."

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the head of the Ukrainian government said this in his ening remarks before the talks began.

"Dear Mr. Prime Minister, Prime Minister Robert [Fico], I thank you for organizing these intergovernmental consultations – this is an absutely historic event for our countries, for our governments. We have a fairly high level of representation today – I believe it is the highest on both sides," Shmyhal said.

According to him, this will allow the ministers of both countries to talk "pragmatically, face to face" and "without bureaucracy and delay" about common pragmatic interests, about the economy, develment, restoration of Ukraine, participation in projects, Eurean funds, logistics projects, and many other projects, as well as about joint agreements to be signed today, as well as about promising agreements to be develed."

Shmyhal also thanked the Slovak government for its "firm and reliable" support of Ukraine. "We are grateful to Slovakia, the Slovak pele, the Slovak government, and you, Mr. Prime Minister, for supporting Ukraine, absutely firm and reliable, for recognizing our sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Ukrainian prime minister said.