A two-day summit of the NATO Alliance in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius has concluded. It was attended by the Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, and the Minister of Defence, Marjan Šarec.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the European Council meeting in Brussels. The war in Ukraine, migration, security and defence, the economy and relations with China were the key topics of this summit.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended an ordinary session of the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg. The Council members held a thorough discussion on draft conclusions for the European Council meeting, set to be held on 29 and 30 June 2023. They spoke about the EU’s continued response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, current economic issues, security and defence, and foreign policy issues.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar attends the conference on Ukraine's recovery hosted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the conference, he expressed Slovenia's support for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction process and announced an additional €6 million in aid.

On the margins of the diplomatic conference for the adoption of the MLA Convention, which ends today in Ljubljana, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Iryna Mudra. Their discussions focused on the importance of ensuring accountability for war crimes.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar took part in a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, with Ministers and State Secretaries discussing the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Horn of Africa. They also met with Western Balkans’ Foreign Ministers.

For his significant contribution to the deepening of relations between Slovenia and Ukraine, and for Slovenia's support and assistance to Ukraine's successful defence against Russian aggression, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, Andriy Taran, on behalf of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, presented the Badge of Honour to the Minister of Defence, Marjan Šarec, and the Medal for Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Damir Črnčec.

Minister Irena Šinko has attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to discuss agricultural topics together with her EU counterparts. An important discussion was held on the situation on agricultural markets, in particular in light of the war in Ukraine, and export limitations for Ukrainian grain imposed by some EU member states. Ministers also exchanged their experience in implementing the strategic plans for the common agricultural policy and discussed the regulative framework for the certification of carbon removals. Slovenia recalled, in the EU Council, the importance of labelling the origin of honey in light of the planned revision of the Honey Directive.

Slovenia increased its ODA by 48.7% in 2022 compared to the year before. This significant increase is mainly due to Slovenia's exceptional contributions to Ukraine, the care of Ukrainian refugees in Slovenia, the cancellation of the clearing debt of the Republic of Angola and the increased development aid from the EU budget.

Following the visit of Prime Minister Robert Golob to Kyiv yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Slovenian nation for its support.

In the second part of his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Acting Director-General of the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Edvin Skrt participated in the meeting of EU Directors-General for development cooperation, which took place within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Prime Minister Robert Golob on a bilateral visit to Ukraine at the personal invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon handed over two Ljubljana Passenger Transport buses, which the Municipality of Ljubljana donated to Ukraine, to the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Slovenia, Andriy Taran. “Today we continue our assistance to Ukraine, this time, too, supporting the most vulnerable in the war – children and young people –, so that they can get to school more safely in these difficult circumstances.”

Today, Minister Marjan Šarec and State Secretary Dr Damir Črnčec attended a ceremony at Congress Square in support of Ukraine on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised an event in support of Ukraine and in memory of the victims of Russia's brutal aggression. Acting Secretary-General Renata Cvelbar Bek addressed the Diplomatic Corps and the Ministry's staff on behalf of Minister Tanja Fajon, who is attending the Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. Andrii Taran, Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, also addressed the participants. The speeches and a minute's silence for the victims of the aggression against Ukraine were followed by the raising of the Ukrainian flag.

Below is a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, on the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"There has never been any doubt in Slovenia that Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the aggressor, and we will continue to help Ukraine in every possible way," said Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob on the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Last year, Slovenia helped Ukraine with almost €30 million in various forms of aid: from humanitarian and material assistance to direct aid to Ukrainian refugees who have taken refuge in our country. We have also been a strong supporter of Ukraine on the political stage and have been working hard to clearly condemn Russia's aggression and its crimes.

In the following we publish the statement by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon addressed the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York marking the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Slovenia strongly supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and Member States working towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.