First meeting in Ukraine-Benelux format held in Odesa: main agreements

Ministers of Ukraine and Benelux meet in Odesa. Photo: Andrii Sybiha / X

On Tuesday, 26 August, the first meeting in the new Ukraine-Benelux format took place in Odesa. The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as a representative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemned Russian aggression.

The joint statement noted that the Benelux countries would continue to provide humanitarian, military, financial, political and reconstruction assistance to Kyiv. They promised to coordinate their actions with the EU and continue to impose sanctions against Russia, «Evropeiska Pravda».

Ministers of Ukraine and Benelux met in Odesa. Photo: Andrii Sybiha / X

Ministers of Ukraine and Benelux met in Odesa. Photo: Andrii Sybiha / X

It was emphasised that Ukraine's future lies with the EU and NATO. The countries also reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a special tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression.

The areas of further cooperation included security and defence, humanitarian demining, energy, digital transformation, cyber defence, and investment.

It should be noted that the Ukraine-Benelux format was created to deepen cooperation and coordination between Ukraine and the three states that are co-founders of the EU and NATO.

As a reminder, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger recently paid a visit to Odesa. Andrii Sybiha noted that her Austrian counterpart continues to develop the dynamics of Ukrainian-Austrian relations.