Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati paid an official visit to Kiev, Ukraine, where he met with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin. He also held meetings with the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development of Ukraine, Stepan Kubiv, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada) Andriy Parubiy.

FM Klimkin expressed gratitude for Albania’s support to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, both bilaterally and within the framework of international organizations. Minister Klimkin also thanked Minister Bushati for aligning its positions and statements to those of the the EU with regard to Ukraine.

On his part, Minister Bushati reconfirmed Albania's position in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Furthermore, the two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation and shared views on further intensifying friendly relations in areas where both countries can offer potential exchanges, such as agriculture, tourism, transport, energy, education, culture, etc.

Minister Bushati valued the Albanian diaspora living in Ukraine as an important element and friendship bridge between the two countries, and praised Ukrainian authorities for dealing with the diaspora in accordance with international law. He expressed readiness to further cooperation,  with a view to carry out joint projects for preserving the cultural identity of this small community, which has been co-existing with the Ukrainian people for nearly 300 years.

Ministers also exchanged views on the security situation in the respective regions.

At the meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development of Ukraine, Stepan Kubiv, parties shared views on potential areas of cooperation, especially in agriculture, where the launching of the First Session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation and the negotiation between the two countries for a free trade agreement will play an important role.

Ukrainian Speaker of Parliament, Andriy Parubiy, on behalf of the Ukrainian Parliament, reiterated the gratitude for Albania's support and contribution to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Furthermore, he expressed full readiness to intensify inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries.

During this visit, Minister Bushati placed a bouquet of flowers at the "Heavenly Heroes" memorial dedicated to the citizens who lost their lives at Euromaidan.