On July 25, on the margins of the 2025 Annual Conference of the Heads of Ukraine's Diplomatic Missions abroad, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society Maksym Dotsenko signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS).

This document is a logical continuation of the agreements reached during the Minister’s meeting with the leadership of the URCS on July 3 of this year.

The Memorandum will enable a number of Ukrainian diplomatic missions to implement important humanitarian projects in close partnership with the URCS. It establishes a framework for joint humanitarian responses in countries that need them most, particularly on the African continent. This includes assistance in the areas of health care, access to education for children, the implementation of joint infrastructure projects, and other initiatives that will become feasible in the near future thanks to this document.

“Today we are launching this new direction of interaction at the intersection of diplomacy and the humanitarian track,” Andrii Sybiha emphasized.

In previous years, the URCS proved to be a key humanitarian partner in responding to the consequences of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. The unique experience gained by the URCS in conditions of full-scale war can be valuable for many countries, particularly in Africa.

It is important to transfer the experience of the URCS to African countries, where the humanitarian situation often remains difficult and the need for reliable partners, trusted by local communities, is critical.

“Ukraine must strengthen its role as an active contributor and partner, particularly in the context of implementing such joint initiatives,” the Minister emphasized.

The Minister also noted the special role and well-earned reputation of the URCS among other national Red Cross societies around the world. He assured the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ readiness to serve as a committed ally of the URCS in further strengthening this role on the international stage.

The Minister separately expressed his gratitude for the URCS’s humanitarian projects, particularly its support in the health improvement and recovery of Ukrainian children abroad.

Following the signing ceremony, a practical discussion was held with the participation of the Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa, Maksym Subkh, Ukrainian ambassadors to African countries, and the leadership of the URCS. The participants outlined priority steps for the practical implementation of the Memorandum’s provisions.