Shmyhal: Situation in Belarus will not affect trade relations between Ukraine and Lithuania

He said this at a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte in Vilnius, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I am convinced that the situation in Belarus will not affect bilateral relations between our countries, first of all, in terms of friendly relations between our countries. Secondly, of course, you can always look for alternative routes for transit, for logistics, they exist - through European countries, through the EU,” Shmyhal said.

He also assured that there are no physical or political obstacles to the development of cooperation between Ukraine and Lithuania.

According to the Prime Minister, this year the trade turnover between the two counties is expected to return to pre-quarantine levels.

"The trade turnover in both goods and services between Ukraine and Lithuania in 2019 exceeded $1.5 billion. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, it did not decrease much in 2020 - slightly more than $1.3 billion. This year we have the prospect to return the trade turnover in the amount of 1.5 billion [dollars],” Shmyhal said.

As reported, Vilnius hosts the fourth Ukraine Reform Conference on July 7-8.

Ukraine Reform Conference was launched in 2017 in London as a format for uniting partners and friends of Ukraine. The forum participants discuss the situation in the country and assess the democratic transformations and reforms that have been taking place since 2014.

iy