The Speaker of the Austrian Upper House of Parliament, Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler, paid her first visit to Ukraine.
Together with the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk, they visited Lviv, where they held bilateral and a number of other working meetings and visited social facilities.
«This is an important and symbolic visit of solidarity amid the horrific missile attacks by the russian federation on Kryvyi Rih and Sumy, which killed and injured many civilians and children,» Olena Kondratiuk said.
During these challenging days for the Ukrainian people, «our hearts beat with Ukraine,» Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler stressed.
According to the Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Austria provides significant humanitarian support to Ukraine and is a member of the international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children.
«Recently, the Lower House of the Austrian Parliament adopted a resolution on Ukrainian children abducted by russia. Ms Andrea assured us that the Upper House, which she heads, will also consider a similar document,» Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk said.
She noted that although Austria is a militarily neutral country, it cannot and will not remain indifferent to the severe humanitarian consequences of russian aggression faced by Ukrainians.
«Austria is interested in joining initiatives to build bomb shelters for Ukrainian children in schools. Despite the war, Austrian business also remains active in Ukraine and makes a significant contribution to our economic resilience,» Olena Kondratiuk emphasised.
She underlined that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Austria has provided EUR 2.9 billion in humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine.