Skopje, 16 October 2023 (MIA) — Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met Monday in Kyiv to discuss the protection of the Ukrainian people as a priority of the OSCE; activities within the OSCE Extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine; and the condition of the three OSCE members imprisoned in Donetsk and Luhansk, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the meeting, FM Osmani and FM Kuleba also talked about what else OSCE can do to support the country amid the Russian military aggression, the MFA says.

"In January, during my first visit to Ukraine as OSCE Chairman, I said your courage and sacrifice deserved our greatest respect. Inspired by your resilience, I am confident today that you will win. Ukraine will win," the press release cites Osmani as saying at the joint press conference held after the meeting.

Osmani said the donor-funded Extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine, established in November 2022, would continue to help Ukraine through projects addressing specific needs.

"These projects will help address the consequences of the war and also support Ukraine's long-term reform efforts as well as the needs of its citizens. I often say, the OSCE can do a lot in times of war, but it can do even more in times of peace, which is our key priority for Ukraine," Osmani said.

Despite challenges faced by the OSCE, he said, as a result of the Russian violation of its foundational principles, the organization was resilient and would continue to uphold its values with the support of other participating countries.

"As OSCE Chairman," Osmani said, "I have continued to call on Russia to stop this war, to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and to dedicate itself anew to the principles and values of the OSCE. Continuing this war not only destroys the lives, the homes and the hopes of the Ukrainian people but also creates instability and uncertainty throughout the broader OSCE region."

He said Ukraine remained a central priority of North Macedonia's chairpersonship of the OSCE, and would also be discussed at the OSCE Ministerial Council to be held in December in Skopje. mr/