No Worries: MFA Explained Why Macedonian Prime Minister Canceled His Visit to Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine commented on the cancellation of the visit of the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski to Kyiv. There are no hidden motives. It has happened due to a scheduling conflict.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko said that exclusively to "European Pravda.".

"Ukraine and North Macedonia are true friends. And true friends always understand and respect each other. Indeed, a joint visit of the heads of government of Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia was planned at a certain stage. Meanwhile, the date coincided with the Prespa Forum Dialogue. Traveling to Ukraine is extremely complicated today, so Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski will not be able to return to his country in time to make it to the forum," he said.

The spokesman added that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would also speak remotely at this event.

"We appreciate Ukraine's support from North Macedonia in times of Russian aggression and will be happy to welcome their Prime Minister to Kyiv at another convenient time to discuss steps to develop friendly relations between our countries," Oleh Nikolenko added.

As previously reported, the Prime Minister of Montenegro accepted the invitation of the Ukrainian President and suggested ​​a joint visit to Kyiv with Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans, especially NATO members, "to send a stronger message of support from the Western Balkans to Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity."

Initially, the Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia agreed to the proposal. As later reported, Dimitar Kovačevski would not join his colleagues due to other circumstances that he could not postpone.