Kipper tells details of UK Defense Secretary's visit to Odesa

Kipper tells details of UK Defense Secretary's visit to Odesa

Kyiv  •  UNN

July 8 2024, 02:28 PM  •  28960 views

The newly appointed British Defense Secretary John Healey visited Ukraine's Odesa during his first foreign visit, pledging continued support for the country and discussing assistance in the face of ongoing Russian attacks.

Yesterday, July 7, the newly appointed UK Defense Secretary John Healey made his first foreign visit to Ukraine. During the talks in Odesa, he assured the Ukrainian side of further support for the country. The head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Oleh Kiper said this on the air of the "United News" marathon, UNN reports.

"There were talks about assistance. I won't reveal all the cards, but I will say that they are going to a meeting. Our President told them how important the assistance is for us today. And the main thing is that it should not be suspended. The change of political leadership should not affect it," Kiper said.

The head of the Odesa Regional State Administration also expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those killed as a result of today's missile attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

"Today, the whole world has seen the inhuman actions of the aggressor, the whole world has seen it. I feel very painful. You remember that children were also killed in Odesa in March. I thank the whole country and the people of Kyiv for their help and support. It's nice when people come together," he added.

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Odesa region has become the epicenter of international meetings. Last year, more than 100 delegations visited the region.

For example, in December, Spyridon Lambridis, Special Envoy of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Ukraine, and Dimitrios Dokhtis, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in Odesa, visited Odesa region. They both condemned the Russian attacks and stated that the Greek side was ready to contribute to the postwar reconstruction of Odesa region.

In the same month, Kiper met with Swedish officials to discuss Russia's ongoing attacks and to seek further support for regional security. As a result of the meeting, Odesa expects Swedish assistance in strengthening regional security.

In November, newly appointed British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Odesa .  During the visit, Cameron familiarized himself with the consequences of Russian terrorism targeting Ukrainian grain, port civilian infrastructure, and architectural monuments in Odesa.