News

On 18 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius had a telephone conversation with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and discussed bilateral cooperation, the reform process in Ukraine, and the Eastern Partnership policy.

L. Linkevičius highlighted Lithuania’s continued support for Ukraine that was fighting against external aggression and commended the country’s effort to implement reforms even under difficult conditions in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We welcome the recently adopted important law on opening the farmland market  and the law on banking activity. It is important for the country to continue the reforms,”  said L. Linkevičius.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also stressed that the rule of law and the judicial independence were important seeking to avoid situations of selective justice and abuses of the legal system for the purpose of furthering political aims.

L. Linkevičius and D. Kuleba also discussed the outcomes of the video conference of the Eastern Partnership Foreign Affairs Ministers of 11 June, as well as preparations for the Eastern Partnership leaders' video conference. The Foreign Ministers agreed on the need to maintain an ambitious Eastern Partnership agenda and to identify long-term motivating goals that could be endorsed at the Eastern Partnership Summit scheduled for 2021.

L. Linkevičius also reiterated Lithuania’s concerns over Ukraine’s intention to apply safeguard measures against imports of fertilisers. According to Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Ukraine is an important market for Lithuanian fertiliser producers. About 30 % of Lithuania’s production is sold in Ukraine. Thus, it is expected that Ukraine will comply with its international commitments under the Association Agreement and the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and will not impose trade restrictive measures.