News item | 31-01-2022 | 8:00 pm
Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs will visit Ukraine and Moldova on 1 and 2 February. It is the first visit of Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra to both countries. The visit to Ukraine is dominated by the situation at the border with Russia and cooperation regarding the disaster with flight MH17. Topics discussed during the visit to Moldova include the reform agenda, the geopolitical situation and diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Moldova.
Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs will visit Ukraine and Moldova on 1 and 2 February. It is the first visit of Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra to both countries. The visit to Ukraine is dominated by the situation at the border with Russia and cooperation regarding the disaster with flight MH17. Topics discussed during the visit to Moldova include the reform agenda, the geopolitical situation and diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Moldova.
In the run-up to the visit to Kiev, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra maintained close contact with various allies. Also today, the Prime Minister spoke with the secretaries-general of NATO and the UN about the tensions surrounding Ukraine. The aim of the talks is to find a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis, while also being prepared for worse scenarios. The Prime Minister will also speak with President Macron before the visit.
During the visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra speak with President Zelensky at the presidential palace. A meeting with Prime Minister Shmygal is also on the agenda and Minister Hoekstra has a meeting with his Ukrainian colleague Kuleba.
Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra are received in Kiev at the office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Here they discuss the activities of the organization surrounding the disaster with flight MH17 and in the years afterwards, and about the current situation in Eastern Ukraine.