Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) met on Thursday with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Ukrainian parliament chairman Volodymyr Groysman.

Speaking with Yatsenyuk, Liberman discussed economic and technological cooperation and the two examined the idea of a free trade zone between the countries. The two made plans to hold the next joint economic commission meeting after Israeli elections in March.

Israel and Ukraine recently introduced a visa-free program of travel between the countries, and Liberman and Yatsenyuk remarked on the positive effect the change has had in terms of bilateral business development.

In his meeting with Groysman, a call was made for increasing contacts between the Israeli and Ukrainian parliaments.

Liberman pointed out that 400,000 Jews from Ukraine are currently living in Israel, saying “your problems are close and familiar to us.” He likewise promised to continue supporting Ukraine in the international arena.

Concluding the meeting, Groysman and Liberman urged the development of new laws to further increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries.