Kuleba during visit to London: We're working together with allies to bring Russia back to negotiating table

KYIV. Dec 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian diplomats are actively cooperating with international partners in order to return Russia to the negotiating table and prevent an escalation on the Ukrainian-Russian border, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said during a visit to London.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry (MFA) press service, in the capital of the United Kingdom, Kuleba held bilateral talks with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Elizabeth Truss.

"Russia has pulled over a hundred thousand troops and a large amount of weapons to the Ukrainian border and into the occupied territories. The Russian authorities refuse to explain the movement of their troops, and Russian officials threaten Ukraine with destruction. However, Moscow is blocking any progress in negotiations on a peace settlement in Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group. We are working together with partners to bring Russia back to the negotiating table," the head of Ukrainian diplomacy said.

In turn, Truss confirmed the tough and principled position of Great Britain regarding support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"She said that London has already actively participated in international efforts to develop and implement a comprehensive package of deterring Russia from further aggression, which was initiated by Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry said.

It is clarified that the heads of diplomacy discussed in detail steps to strengthen the defense capability of the Ukrainian state, in particular, the development of the Ukrainian naval forces, strengthening the level of professional training of our servicemen and jointly countering disinformation.

"Energy security was a separate issue of the talks. Dmytro Kuleba and Liz Truss agreed on a joint position: Ukraine and Great Britain are opposed to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, since this geopolitical project of Russia is aimed at undermining the energy security of Ukraine and all of Europe," the Foreign Ministry emphasizes.

They add that Kuleba expressed Ukraine’s interest in creating practical cooperation with the United Kingdom in the field of diversification of energy supply routes, in particular in the field of clean energy and hydrogen production.

"The Minister emphasized the importance of the fullest use of the opportunities of the free trade zone of Ukraine and Great Britain to increase trade volumes and attract new British investments in the Ukrainian economy," the message says.

The Foreign Ministry adds that the head of the department also proposed ways to develop trade between Ukraine and Great Britain with the involvement of third countries.