ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Monday highlighted the role of joint projects in strengthening relations between his country and neighboring Slovakia.

“Joint projects in energy, transport and infrastructure will strengthen ties between the two countries and contribute to the development of border regions,” Shmyhal was quoted as saying in a government statement in opening remarks during intergovernmental consultations with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod.

He said that Ukraine and Slovakia have made significant progress in implementing agreements as part of the cooperation roadmap signed between both countries earlier this year.

He said some of the agreements reached during previous meetings have been fully implemented, while others are at the final stage.

Shmyhal said that it is necessary to ensure “victory and a just peace” for Ukraine to implement all the projects on the agenda.

He further said that they will also discuss steps to implement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-step peace formula, which he laid out at the 2022 G20 summit in Indonesia.

“As members of a large European family, we highly appreciate your personal, unquestionable support for Ukraine's European integration aspirations,” Shmyhal said.

For his part, Fico conveyed Slovakia’s support for Ukraine's membership in the EU, further saying that the development of border regions has positive effects on both sides of the border and is key to developing their ties, according to Slovak news agency TASR.