Qatar will provide Ukraine with $100 million in humanitarian aid to support health, education and demining efforts in Ukraine.
The announcement was made by the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani during his official visit to Kyiv. This was the first visit of a Qatari official to Ukraine.
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that the funds would be directed to rehabilitating health and education infrastructure, provision of drinking water, and humanitarian services.
Zelenskyy thanked Qatar for support
Welcoming the Prime Minister of Qatar to Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Qatar for supporting our country and providing humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people.
“We appreciate this visit and consider it an important manifestation of Qatar’s support and solidarity with our country. We are sincerely grateful for all the assistance received from Qatar,” Zelenskyy said. He also mentioned opportunities for Qatari investment and participation in the implementation of development and rehabilitation programs in Ukraine.
The two leaders also discussed efforts to ensure global food security and the functioning of the grain corridor, the Peace Formula, the return of illegally deported children and Ukraine’s recovery, according to Ukrainian media reports. Zelensky presented a ten-point peace plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in November 2022.
Qatari Minister meets Ukrainian Foreign Minister
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar had a detailed meeting with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Welcoming the humanitarian assistance, Shmyhal said that “This money will be channeled for reconstruction in the health and education sectors, humanitarian de-mining, and other important social and humanitarian projects.”
The two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation especially in the fields of economy, investment, energy, infrastructure, digital technology, demining, and exporting grains to countries according to priorities of need.
Shmyhal said he and the Qatari foreign minister, discussed Ukraine’s peace formula – a 10-point peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s war on Ukraine that calls for nuclear, energy and food security, and the restoration of Ukraine’s international borders.
Shmyhal thanked Qatar for its willingness to mediate in efforts to repatriate thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Russia since Moscow’s invasion.
The Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also visited Ukraine’s Child Rights Protection Centre in Kyiv.
He was also briefed by Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, on the center’s activities and the services it provides to children, especially their protection during wars and conflicts, and its efforts to alleviate their suffering.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also met the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, founder and president of Olena Zelenska Foundation. During the meeting, the Qatari leader was briefed on the role of the foundation in conflict areas and the humanitarian protection of children.