Qatar’s medical aid to Ukraine, provided under the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, underlines the friendship and strong relations between the two countries, Ukrainian ambassador Andrii Kuzmenko has stressed.

“This step is a manifestation of true friendship and yet another evidence of the strong partnership between Ukraine and Qatar,” the envoy said in a press statement.

He said a special Qatar Airways flight, carrying the urgent medical aid arrived in Ukraine on May 26.

Kuzmenko said the cargo comprises around nine tonnes of coveralls, medical gowns, masks, gloves, goggles and face shields.

These equipment, he noted, will be immediately handed over to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health for distribution among hospitals and medical institutions.

“I would like to underline that this humanitarian aid is the result of agreements reached recently between the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” Kuzmenko said.

He noted that this issue was also discussed in detail between Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, during their phone conversation held on May 7.

During the last couple of weeks, the envoy said they worked closely with Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, QFFD, the Qatari embassy in Kyiv and relevant Ukrainian authorities to make this happen.

“In this regard, I would like to express my sincere gratitude, first of all, to His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani," Kuzmenko said.

“Today, as the entire world addresses the extraordinary global challenge of Covid-19, the State of Qatar demonstrates a strong commitment to a spirit of partnership and mutual assistance,” he said. “By providing significant and targeted assistance to its foreign partners, Qatar is making a significant contribution to the global efforts to overcome the pandemic, reaffirming its high prestige in the international arena."

Kuzmenko highlighted Ukraine’s readiness to continue effective co-operation with Qatar in combating Covid-19 and sharing the experience in this field.

“I am really happy that, especially in the recent years, the Ukrainian-Qatari relations have reached new heights, thanks to the intensive political dialogue and acceleration of trade and economic co-operation between our states,” he said.

“There are many important issues on our current bilateral agenda. I am confident that after overcoming the pandemic, Ukraine and the State of Qatar will continue proactive interaction in their implementation,” the envoy added.


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