KYIV, 3 August 2022 - During their visit to Kyiv, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Poland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid have announced a new OSCE support programme for Ukraine.

"Supporting Ukraine - its Government, people, civil society and institutions - has been and remains the OSCE's top priority. Even though we had no other option but to close our two field operations due to the position of the Russian Federation, the OSCE remains engaged and committed to assist Ukraine in these challenging times," Chairman Rau stressed.

"The programme we are launching is ambitious and I believe it will help the country to address the multiple and unprecedented challenges it is facing due to the ongoing Russian military attack," he underlined.

Secretary General Schmid emphasized that the new support programme will build upon the trusted partnership and diverse experience the OSCE gained over the last three decades in Ukraine.

"Prior to the outbreak of the war, the OSCE had the largest international presence in Ukraine. I thank our staff, our greatest asset. With this new programmewe will make every effort to preserve and use the invaluable experience and expertise we have built." she underscored.

The new support programme sets out the implementation of approximately 25 projects.

Programme activities will focus both on addressing the immediate threats and risks posed by the war and on supporting Ukrainian institutions and civil society organizations in developing Ukraine's long-term democratic and social resilience.