A significant step in humanitarian assistance was marked today as Slovenia pledged €1.5 million to Ukraine for demining efforts, as announced by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy.
Andrii Taran, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Slovenia, and Tanya Fajon, Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, signed the agreement. Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and Slovenia’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Mateja Prevolšek, attended the meeting online.
Under the terms of the agreement, the funds will be provided on a non-refundable basis in December 2023.
Svyrydenko expressed profound gratitude to the Slovenian government and people:
“Ukraine is incredibly grateful for the support and assistance we have received from Slovenia since the first day of Russian aggression. The €1.5 million will help equip our emergency services and State Special Transport Service deminers with necessary individual protection, equipment, and machinery. This aid will accelerate the clearing of our country’s territory from explosives, saving many Ukrainian lives and health.”
Svyrydenko also thanked Slovenia for participating in the sectoral working group to coordinate donor efforts. She emphasized Ukraine’s eagerness to work closely with partners to develop long-term solutions and initiate projects that not only meet immediate needs but also lay the foundation for sustained cooperation in this field.
According to Ukraine’s Emergency Service deputy chief Mykola Didyk, Russian forces may have scattered mines across 30% of Ukraine’s territory – some 174,000 square kilometers. The country faces major economic damage, with vast swathes of crops going unharvested and fields falling.
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