During his visit to Iraq and participation in the international conference that brought together parliamentary representatives from over 50 countries in the city of Erbil, Mr. Oleksandr Vasiuk — a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and representative of the "Servant of the People" party (the party of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) — stated that his trip served as an opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s role in maintaining international peace and security, calling it “an excellent tour.”

Regarding his visit to the Kurdistan Region and the nature of relations with Iraq, the Ukrainian MP noted: “The relations are positive and constructive, and both countries have many opportunities in the fields of culture and economy,” — emphasizing that “Ukraine has a strong interest in developing these relations with the Iraqi side.”

Mr. Oleksandr also added: “We are convinced that the current moment is favorable for intensifying and deepening these relations, which will contribute to strengthening trust between our countries. One form of such cooperation is the education of Iraqi students in Ukrainian universities in recent years, and this academic exchange demonstrates that there are real opportunities for the development of bilateral relations.”

The MP also stated: “We are confident that economic cooperation between Ukraine and Iraq holds significant untapped potential. This is one of the areas that deserves special attention from both sides. Deepening economic ties can become the foundation for a stable, long-term, and mutually beneficial partnership.”
He emphasized that “the time has come to intensify dialogue in the areas of trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation. Strengthening economic relations is an effective way to build a new level of trust and engagement between our countries — beyond political or diplomatic levels.”

Regarding the war currently facing his country, the Ukrainian MP said: “We do not see any readiness from the Russian side to stop the war and engage in genuine peace negotiations. On the contrary — aggression against our critical infrastructure and civilian areas continues every day,” — stressing that “Ukraine seeks to return to normal life and peace, but not at the cost of losing part of its territory.”

Concerning the recent talks between the two countries held in Istanbul, Mr. Oleksandr noted: “It was a constructive first round, during which an agreement was reached to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side, and we highly value Turkey’s role in these negotiations,” — but he added:
“Despite this, we have not seen any serious signals indicating an end to the aggression against our country.”

He was also asked about the nature of the agreement Kyiv signed with Washington. Mr. Oleksandr explained: “This is an important step in the history of Ukrainian-American relations, and we consider this agreement not just a temporary investment, but a strategic partnership between our countries.”
He noted that this agreement will provide Ukraine with “the necessary equipment to develop our industry and expand Ukrainian expertise, so we view it as a long-term, mutually beneficial investment for both sides.”

Regarding the second round of negotiations that took place on June 2, Oleksandr noted that it “provided an opportunity to discuss a number of humanitarian issues, particularly the exchange of wounded soldiers and the return of the bodies of the deceased. The Ukrainian side also handed over to Russia a list of children who had been illegally deported, with a demand for their return.”

He expressed the belief that: “Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, which demonstrates its unwillingness to achieve genuine peace. Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens and calls on the international community to increase pressure on the aggressor to end the war.”

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