Montenegro PM is ready to visit Kyiv

In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Montenegro Prime Minister Dritan Abazović expressed readiness to visit Kyiv.

The Montenegrin TV and Radio Company RTCG reports about it.

"We hope that Ukraine will receive the EU candidate status, and Montenegro, as the leader of the negotiation process, is ready to provide the necessary expert and political assistance," Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović told Zelensky in a telephone conversation.

Zelensky invited Abazović to visit Kyiv as soon as possible. In response, the Montenegrin prime minister expressed readiness to visit Kyiv and said he would invite other leaders of the Western Balkans to travel to Ukraine together to express support.

Abazović also noted that Montenegro condemned russia's aggression against Ukraine and from the very beginning openly supported the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky said on his Twitter account that they talked about the progress of the two countries on the path to EU membership.

"I am grateful for fully supporting Ukraine both in this issue and in the issue of sanctions. We outlined plans for the future bilateral and regional cooperation," Volodymyr Zelensky wrote.

In 2017, Montenegro, a small Balkan country, challenged russia's protest against its accession to NATO and joined the Alliance. Montenegro is considered next in line among Balkan countries to join the EU.