Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine. Press Service of the Government Administration  reported on Thursday.

The face-to-face meeting at the Administration of the Georgian Government emphasized the special friendship and strategic partnership between Georgia and Ukraine.

The parties discussed the situation in the Black Sea Region and regional security, underlining the Georgian side’s position on commitment to peaceful conflict resolution policy. The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked his Ukrainian counterpart for strongly supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The meeting also revolved around threats from Russia and the dire consequences of occupation, a challenge shared by Georgia and Ukraine. The Prime Minister of Georgia expressed deep concern over Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders and in temporarily occupied Crimea. Irakli Garibashvili reassured his Ukrainian colleague of his firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Following the face-to-face meeting, the two countries’ delegations engaged in broader-format talks. The parties discussed key issues in the bilateral relations between Georgia and Ukraine, pointing out expanding trade and economic interaction and the importance of tapping fully into the potential of economic cooperation in order to increase the trade turnover even further. The parties also underlined the importance of strengthening tourism and transport ties.

Special attention during the meeting was paid to the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Ukraine, also to ensuring stronger bilateral cooperation in this direction. The parties underscored the importance of the cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

The conversation also touched on Georgia-Ukraine cooperation as part of various international organizations. According to the parties, cooperation within the formats of the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, and GUAM offers a good opportunity for mutual assistance and support. Along with the Prime Ministers of the two countries, the participants of the broader-format meeting included Ukraine’s Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko, Prime Minister’s Foreign Relations Advisor Olena Kotlyarova, and Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Igor Dolgov, while the Georgian side was represented by Vice Prime Minister, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava, Minister of Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs Thea Tsulukiani, Head of the Government Administration Ilia Darchiashvili, and Georgia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze.