Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibyha participated in an informal meeting of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers together with Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who has just arrived in Ukraine.
During the meeting, he spoke about the latest events regarding the peaceful settlement of the conflict following proposals from the USA and discussions at the level of national security advisors, including a meeting in Geneva.
'Ukraine strives for peace and supports the initiatives of US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war. It is crucial to prevent any external entity from hindering the process of peacefully resolving the conflict,' the minister stated.
Sibyha emphasized the necessity of utilizing any opportunities to achieve a just peace, even in light of Russia's interpretations, which continues to attack civilians and critical infrastructure during peace negotiations. He urged European allies to strengthen support for Ukraine and raise the cost of war for the aggressor.
Main action directions
- Implementation of a new EU sanctions package against the Russian Federation, including restrictions on access to maritime services, sanctions against ports of third countries, Russian financial institutions, oligarchs, and the expansion of the list of prohibited goods.
- Final resolution of the issue regarding reparations and complete utilization of frozen Russian assets.
- Initiation of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.
- Enhancement of Ukraine's defense capabilities and financial support for the defense industry.
- Development of security guarantees to prevent further conflict.
Sibyha also called on European colleagues to maintain transatlantic unity, as only joint efforts will help deter Russian aggression. He expressed gratitude for the support and urged for increased visits by high-level officials to Ukraine to support the Ukrainian people.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister took part in a meeting with the Latvian minister, where they discussed the latest developments in the settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Sibyha highlighted the importance of EU support for Ukraine and emphasized the need to enhance measures against Russian aggression.