On Monday, June 15, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha took part online in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
Andrii Sybiha briefed his colleagues on the consequences of Russia's massive strike on Ukraine overnight, which killed at least four people and injured nearly 30 in Kyiv, and also damaged the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex.
"I remember the photographs of Notre Dame burning seven years ago. Today I felt a terrible déjà vu, looking at similar footage from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. This is the spiritual center of our nation and a shrine of all Christianity. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. We expect a decisive response from UNESCO's governing bodies and the immediate dispatch of UNESCO experts to the site of this crime," the minister said.
Andrii Sybiha added that the UN has identified May as the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians, with at least 270 people killed.
The minister noted that the russian army is stuck and losing more than 30,000 soldiers a month, so the only thing Putin can do is attack civilians. However, russian terror does not change the global picture.
"Every night's russian strike should trigger new sanctions the next morning. Every act of terror must automatically raise the price of aggression," he said.
The head of the MFA stressed that ballistic missile defense must become a shared cause for all of Europe and called on partners to find any possible ways to provide Ukraine's Defense Forces with such capabilities.
"Strategically, we need a European ballistic missile shield. This is about the security of Europe and its strategic autonomy," the minister said, thanking all the allies who have already joined this initiative.
Andrii Sybiha separately addressed Ukraine's long-range sanctions. Over the past month, Ukraine's Defense Forces struck 18 oil refineries and related infrastructure. The minister also informed his colleagues that Ukraine is implementing a logistics blockade to halt russian military logistics in the temporarily occupied territories, in particular on the highway connecting Rostov-on-Don with Mariupol, Melitopol and Crimea. According to him, russian troops on the occupied peninsula and other temporarily occupied territories are already feeling this new reality.
Regarding Putin's statement during his call with President Trump about an alleged readiness to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, the minister said this was yet another mockery of peace efforts. Moscow and Minsk are not acceptable venues for negotiations; at the same time, Ukraine is ready to consider any acceptable platforms.
"President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting to achieve real progress. He is ready to take on this responsibility. What is needed now is unified pressure on Russia to ensure that such a meeting takes place," he added.
In the minister's view, the agreement reached between Tehran and Washington opens the way for the United States' return to the peace process and its more active involvement.
Andrii Sybiha also touched on the topic of Ukraine's European integration: "I am currently traveling from Ukraine to Moldova. Both our countries are entering the next stage of our path to Brussels. In the coming hours, we will open a new chapter of our shared history — or rather, a cluster," he said.
Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude to all 27 EU members and, in particular, to the Cypriot Presidency for facilitating the opening of the first cluster. The minister stressed that the best response to russian terror will be Ukraine's full membership, and that the closest next step in this regard is the opening of all five remaining clusters.
The minister noted that Ukraine is capable of strengthening the European Union, and outlined a clear position on future membership: "Our goal is full membership. There is no alternative — neither within EU law, nor under today's turbulent world conditions. The time for half-measures is over. So is the time for paper guarantees."
Andrii Sybiha welcomed the EU's sanctions decisions made today and the ongoing work on the 21st package of restrictions against Russia. "I especially welcome the upcoming entry ban for russian combatants. This will place a big question mark over every decision to join the so-called 'special military operation.' We must also include foreign mercenaries," the head of the MFA said.
The head of the foreign policy agency expressed deep gratitude to the peoples and governments of European states for their support, in particular noting the role of Hungary. In just two months, Kyiv and Budapest were able to leave a years-long blockade in the past and begin a reset of bilateral relations.
"The time has come for Europe to step up and start playing a significant role," Andrii Sybiha said.