At the Ministry of Development, a meeting took place with a delegation from France’s National Railway Company (SNCF), led by President Jean-Pierre Farandou and the French Ambassador to Ukraine Gaël Veyssière. On the Ukrainian side, First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Aliona Shkrum, Deputy Minister Oleksii Balesta, and representatives of Ukrzaliznytsia participated.
“Ukrainian Railways has become a true symbol of resilience. Our railway workers demonstrate every day that even under the most challenging conditions, movement and assistance for people can be ensured. We would be very glad to expand cooperation with our French colleagues and exchange valuable experience — technically, through staff training, and by creating memorial sites at railway facilities,” emphasized Aliona Shkrum.
The sides discussed prospects for developing strategic cooperation between Ukraine and France in railway transport, including infrastructure modernization, development of passenger and freight transport, adaptation to European legislation, and experience sharing.
“Cooperation between Ukraine and France has enormous strategic potential. French experience in implementing European legislation, developing high-speed passenger transport, and railway safety and management systems is extremely valuable for us, while Ukraine’s unique experience operating under wartime conditions can also be useful for all of Europe,” noted Oleksii Balesta.
The French side, in turn, expressed respect for Ukrainian railway workers and readiness to develop the partnership. SNCF President Jean-Pierre Farandou stressed that French colleagues were impressed by how Ukraine managed to maintain railway operations in the first days of the full-scale invasion and continues to do so. He also highlighted the need to “build closer ties between Ukrainian and French railway workers, as we share common values and a European future.”
The parties agreed to continue cooperation, including organizing opportunities for experience exchange between railway professionals from both countries.
The meeting marked an important step toward strengthening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and France in the transport sector and integrating Ukrainian Railways into the European space.
