Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, during the opening of the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit in Dubrovnik, assured continued support for Ukraine, which is suffering from Russian aggression.
“Today I want to focus on three points. The first is Croatia’s continued assistance to Ukraine, the second is the relations of Southeast European countries with Ukraine, and the third is why Ukraine, which is suffering from Russian aggression, matters to the world and how we behave in the international community,” he said during his opening remarks at the Ukraine – Southeast Europe summit in Dubrovnik on Wednesday.
Prime Minister pointed out that the total amount of aid to Croatia since February 2022 amounted to about 300 million euros. In addition, Croatia has received about 30 thousand Ukrainian refugees, as well as Ukrainian wounded soldiers, who are being rehabilitated in centers for veterans and specialized hospitals.
“In this context, President Zelenski and I signed an agreement on long-term cooperation and support between Croatia and Ukraine, which lays the foundation for our relations for many years to come, and its content is in line with what we believe we can best contribute,” Plenkovic emphasized.
According to him, “it is a natural reflex of Croatia, as a country that in the past survived aggression and war with much less international assistance, to stand today next to a country that defends the same values of freedom, democracy and peace.”
“We believe this is the right thing to do, and I am proud that today we are all gathered to reaffirm our joint support for Ukraine,” Plenkovic said.
The prime minister noted that Ukraine supported Croatia in 1991, becoming one of the first countries to recognize Croatia internationally, its independence, and provided the country with military equipment and weapons.
“Today Croatia supports Ukraine with equal strength and assistance,” Plenkovic emphasized.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has announced the continuation of military support for Ukraine, despite threats from Russia.
“When you have friends in need, you show your friendship, your solidarity and your support in full. This is what we do. This is what we will continue to do in the future, despite all the threats you might mention,” Plenkovic said at a press conference within the framework of the Crimean Platform in Kyiv on Wednesday, answering the question whether he was not afraid of threats from Russia while providing military support to Ukraine.
According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the Croatian prime minister added that his country “is a NATO member, a member of the European Union, a country that knows when the right time comes to help our friends.”
“We will also support you in rebuilding your energy sector by providing you with the specific know-how that Croatia has in the field of demining. This is a huge task, and that is why we held the first International Conference of Heads of Mine Action last year in Croatia,” Plenković said.
“And, of course, what few countries can provide you with is the experience of our state prosecutors, our judges, our specialized police units in prosecuting war crimes,” he added.
The head of the Croatian government also noted that Croatia continues to accept refugees and war veterans from Ukraine for treatment and accommodation in its veterans’ centers, “and we will continue to do so, as well as to accept groups of Ukrainian children visiting Croatia.”
“We will continue to help you and assist you with military assistance, political assistance, our diplomatic initiatives, we are very happy to host you in Dubrovnik in early October, where we will hold a summit between Ukraine and the countries of Southeast Europe… You can count on Croatia in all the issues you face here today,” Plenkovic added.
As previously reported on the Croatian government’s website, during Plenkovic’s visit to Kyiv, a new package of bilateral assistance from Croatia to Ukraine was presented.
On Wednesday morning, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković arrived in Ukraine on a visit, Croatian media reported.
According to HRT Vijesti, in Kyiv, Plenkovic will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and other Ukrainian officials.
Plenković was joined in Ukraine by Croatian Minister of Science and Education Radovan Fuks, Minister of Justice and Digital Transformation Damir Habiyan, and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić-Radman.
Together with his delegation, the Croatian Prime Minister will take part in the Crimean Platform Summit.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Crimean Platform Summit would take place on Wednesday, September 11.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has confirmed his participation in the Peace Summit in Switzerland, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a conversation with the head of the Croatian government.
“I congratulated him on his appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and expressed gratitude for Croatia’s continued support for Ukraine. I also thanked Prime Minister Plenkovic for confirming his participation in the Peace Summit in Switzerland,” Zelenskyy wrote in a telegram on Monday.
The parties also discussed Croatia’s support for the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU and the possibility of joining the G7 Vilnius Declaration of Support for Ukraine.
