Ukraine and UK discuss UIA plane crash, deal after Brexit and Donbas

Ukraine and the United Kingdom will make every effort to bring those responsible to justice for the crash of a Ukrainian plane near Tehran and to ensure that Iran pays adequate compensation to the families of the victims.

The press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported this following the talks of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko with Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom Dominic Raab in London on January 16.

"The interlocutors noted the importance of joint actions to ensure a proper investigation into the circumstances of the Ukrainian plane crash. It was agreed that Ukraine and the United Kingdom would use their best endeavours to bring those responsible to justice and to ensure that Iran pays adequate compensation to the families of those killed," the statement reads.

According to the press service, Prystaiko informed about Ukraine’s readiness to facilitate repatriation of the bodies of the perished British citizens.

While discussing Ukraine-UK relations, the ministers agreed to continue work on organizing an official visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to Great Britain and speed up the talks towards the signing of a bilateral Agreement on Political Cooperation, Free Trade and Partnership.

The sides also discussed the situation in Donbas, particularly in the context of the Normandy Four meeting that took place on December 9, 2019.

In turn, Dominic Raab stressed that, despite Brexit, the UK would remain a devoted friend of Ukraine and continue to support our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also informed about some aspects of the future implementation of sanctions in Great Britain under the so-called Magnitsky Act.

Vadym Prystaiko invited Dominic Raab to visit Ukraine at the earliest convenience.

As reported, Prystaiko is on a working visit to the United Kingdom on January 15-16. As part of his visit, the minister will take part in the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden and Afghanistan in order to coordinate efforts to ensure a proper investigation into the causes of the crash of UIA PS 752 flight in Iran.

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