Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said earlier, as part of the Government's global strategy an embassy began operating in Kyiv last summer on 7 June. It was officially opened by me in August. The embassy's remit is to deepen bilateral relations with Ukraine, provide consular assistance to Irish citizens and work closely with other EU member states in further developing EU-Ukraine relations.

Ukraine is a strategically and economically important European country and a key partner for the EU under the eastern partnership. The opening of the embassy will allow Ireland to take advantage of the opportunities arising from Ukraine's closer economic integration with the EU under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, DCFTA, agreement. Ukraine is on a firm growth trajectory, and a key objective for the embassy will be to contribute to increasing our bilateral trade and economic links with Ukraine. Trade with Ukraine has been growing rapidly in recent years. In 2020, exports of services to Ukraine amounted to €647 million, with imports amounting to €29 million. Exports of goods amounted to €71 million and imports amounted to €92.8 million. The Global Ireland strategy is very much driving what we are doing here in a new, strategic part of Europe.

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