Skopje, 5 August 2022 (MIA) – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Political System and Relations Between Communities Artan Grubi held a farewell meeting on Friday with Ukrainian Ambassador to North Macedonia, Natalia Zadorozhnyuk. They discussed the current situation in Ukraine, deemed by Ambassador Zadorozhnyuk as difficult. “North Macedonia stood on the right side of history by aligning with the democratic countries in line with implementing sanctions against the Russian Federation, condemning the Russian aggression from the very beginning as a NATO member, because there’s no room for aggression and violence in the world in the 21st century,” Grubi’s office said. Ambassador Zadorozhnyuk expressed her gratitude for the continuous support shown to Ukraine by North Macedonia in these times of crisis, including the reception of Ukrainian citizens seeking shelter in our country. Deputy PM Grubi once again reiterated the Government of North Macedonia’s strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, appealing to the parties to sit down and solve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. “Grubi and Zadorozhnyuk also discussed the important step that North Macedonia took by starting the talks for EU integration and holding the first Intergovernmental Conference as an adequate response to the attempts to destabilize and ideologically disorient the country, also describing Ukraine’s candidacy status as a historical moment and geopolitical courageousness caused by the Russian invasion,” said the press release. They concluded that the cooperation between the two countries should carry on with greater intensity in many areas, with a special emphasis on the restoration of Ukraine. dk/ba/