The total amount of commitments for assistance to Ukraine in humanitarian demining, which was confirmed on Wednesday by the participants of the first such special high-level International Donor Conference in Zagreb, amounts to almost EUR 500 million, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Croatia Davor Božinović has said.

"The 34 participating states have expressed their clear political support for Ukraine in the field of mine action and upheld their political commitments... The total amount of these contributions amounts to almost EUR 500 million," he said at a briefing after the end of the first day of the conference.

According to him, additional contributions have been and will be made in the form of equipment, materials and expert assistance.

"Some countries have also made commitments that will be implemented in cooperation with international organizations such as the UN Development Programme," Božinović added.

He stressed that the conference made it clear that Ukraine's partners will join forces and act together at the national, European and international levels to quickly identify threats to the status quo posed by mines and the explosive consequences of war.

"We emphasize the importance of using the most modern technology, knowledge and experience, fully aware that this is vital for the safety of Ukrainian citizens, as well as for the economic, social, environmental and all other aspects of Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and development," the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Internal Affairs of Croatia said.

He recalled that the EU Council is currently discussing a 4-year assistance program for Ukraine worth EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility, after approval of which it will be very important to allocate part of these funds for mine clearance purposes.

"We hope that today's conference confirmed these expectations and that it will be properly reflected in the upcoming rounds of negotiations in the Council and approved by the European Commission," Božinović added.

He also welcomed Switzerland's announcement to organize, as a follow-up to the Zagreb event, the next international donor conference on humanitarian demining in Ukraine next October in Geneva.

On Thursday, the second day of the conference, there will be an expert discussion of detailed mine clearance measures and activities in Ukraine.